ISLAMABAD: Violations of by-laws have been detected in two more housing societies in the federal capital.

The violations were found by a committee constituted by Capital Development Authority (CDA) to carry out scrutiny of housing societies and projects.

The four-member committee constituted on February 19 is headed by Director Master Plan Zafar Iqbal and comprises Director Programming and Evaluation Rejesh Kumar, Deputy Director Master Plan Touqeer Nawaz and a representative of the Cooperatives Housing Department of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.

Over the years, housing societies have converted parks, grounds and green areas into commercial and residential plots. A number of societies have even converted land allocated for graveyards into commercial plots.

Committee formed by CDA has detected violations in four societies so far

The CDA has already requested the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) not to give connections in almost 100 societies till they fulfil the requirements under the by-laws.

About two weeks ago, the committee had detected violations of by-laws in CBR Housing Society and Aghosh-I Housing Society located in Zone V of Islamabad.

According to a statement issued on Saturday, the committee conducted a survey of Cabinet Division Housing Society and Ministry of Interior Housing Society and found violations of by-laws by them. The survey in Soan Garden Housing Society is in progress, it added.

The fresh survey indicated that sewage treatment plants were not available in the Cabinet Housing Society while Ministry of Interior Housing Society had the facility but it was not connected with the sewerage network of the society.

Amenities, including playgrounds, parks, mosques, graveyards, hospitals, road infrastructure and a water supply network, were either not developed or were not up to the mark as per the approved layout plan.

The committee is also inspecting various projects being carried out in housing societies to identify violations of building by-laws. The exercise is being carried out to ensure proper utilisation of areas/plots reserved for amenities, including graveyards, schools, hospitals, parks, grounds and other urban facilities.

The committee will submit its report to the civic agency after conducting a detailed survey of all the housing societies.

In this connection, instructions have been issued to expedite the pace of work and make all-out efforts to complete the survey at the earliest.

The survey is likely to be completed within a week after which remedial measures shall be initiated, said the statement.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2020