LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has launched an operation in the city to control illegal constructions and ensure 100pc recovery of commercialisation fee from the defaulters.

“The objective of the operation is not only to stop the buildings (both residential and commercial) being constructed without maps approval from the LDA and ensure 100pc recovery from the commercialisation fee defaulters but also to keep the city’s architecture well managed. It is also aimed at helping the government overcome environmental issues contributed by the haphazard constructions,” LDA Chief Town Planner Shakil Anjum Minhas told Dawn on Monday.

“Such operations also force the people to get the maps of their buildings approved by paying the fee. It also brings the people in the tax net, leading to increase in the revenue,” he added.

The operation was launched recently under the teams representing various zones of the town planning wing.

A report said the town planning (Zone-III) demolished several buildings in Gulberg, Garden Town and Model Town from June 15 to date. The plots on which the buildings were demolished partially or completely were situated in Model Town (Extension), Garden Town and Gulberg II. Two buildings were razed on the Peco Road. In Gulberg, several buildings, including some private schools and colleges, were also sealed. Moreover, illegally built structures in Gulberg-II were also demolished.

In other operations on the Multan Road, Iqbal Town, Mustafa Town and Sabzazar, the illegally-built structures, including shops, were demolished partially or completely. Similarly, some buildings, including one of a salon and a restaurant, were sealed in these localities. Around 20 illegally-built structures were demolished in another operation in the same localities while 25 buildings were sealed.

The operation was also carried out on the Ferozepur Road, College Road (Township), Punjab Housing Society and LDA Avenue-1 where several structures were razed for being built illegally.

The illegal constructions at various private housing schemes were also dismantled. The illegal constructions on Jail Road, Adda Plot, Raiwind, Jubilee Town and Avenue-1 were also demolished.

“In a recent meeting presided over by LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa, it has been decided that there would be no compromise on illegal constructions as they cause serious civic issues. Therefore, those involved in such activities must stop them or face action,” Mr Minhas warned.

LWMC: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has launched a zero waste operation ahead of Eidul Azha. It has deployed additional machinery and made extraordinary cleanliness arrangements to clear illegally dumped waste around cemeteries, mosques and open plots of Data Ganj Bakhsh Town, Ravi Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Samanabad Town, Aziz Bhatti Town and Gulberg Town.

“We, apart from the routine business, have lifted 2,174 tonne solid waste from Shalimar and Nishtar towns and 682 tonne from Ravi Town,” LWMC Managing Director Rafia Haidar said while inspecting an operation.

“I request the citizens to cooperate with the LWMC for proper disposal of waste before and during Eid,” she said.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022