RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has directed housing societies to get their layout plans approved from the civic agency otherwise action would be initiated against them.

The authority is also planning to launch action against societies who have violated the approved layout plans or changed the public utility areas for mosques, playgrounds, schools, parks and parking spaces, etc. RDA Chairman Mohammad Arif Abbasi said action in accordance with the law would be taken against illegal housing schemes and rules violators.

Total 46 housing schemes in the jurisdiction of the RDA were approved and 36 were declared illegal while four are under process, he added.

In reply to a question, he said the RDA was planning to act against societies who had changed the public utility areas.

Meanwhile, the citizens have urged the RDA to check the violation of approved layout plans by private housing societies.

Saleem, a resident of a private housing scheme, said many housing schemes possessing no-objection certificates from the RDA had changed the layout plans on their own and erected buildings on the plots meant for schools, parks, mosques, graveyards, community centres, hospitals, water reservoirs, community clubs and health centres.

Tahir, another resident, said several open spaces were converted into residential and commercial plots in violation of the layout plans.

Maps of streets and roads have also been changed by the societies to create more plots, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2019