LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA’s) governing body has approved proposals seeking amendments to the LDA building & zoning regulations of 2019 and land use regulations of 2020.

The amendments were made on the instructions of the Lahore High Court to address traffic, parking, and environmental problems caused by educational institutes.

According to minutes of the meeting, the court also sought to ensure rooftop gardening and the provision of no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the environment protection department, Parks & Horticulture Authority, Civil Defence and the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa) at the time of issuance of the completion certificate.

An amendment was introduced in the land use regulations of 2020 that states that the minimum right of way required for the daycare centre, preschool, and primary and junior schools is 30 feet in approved housing schemes. The amended clause increases the right of way to 40 feet.

Move is meant to improve traffic management, environment

Another amendment is related to the issue of the completion certificate of the building and zoning regulations, which currently, have no specification regarding rooftop gardening. In this portion, another clause has been added under which the LDA, before issuing the building completion certificate, will ensure obtaining NOCs from EPA, Tepa, and Civil Defence. Also, it mentions a car parking agreement and proper rooftop active gardening on not less than 50 percent of the rooftop area and a minimum number of trees as per building and zoning regulations.

The road width (right of way) was previously 30 feet for the conversion of a residential building into schools in LDA-approved housing schemes under the permissible use category, according to an officer of the LDA’s town planning wing. However, now it has been increased to 40 feet to avert traffic congestion.

“The road width fixed for the schools in commercial buildings on major roads is the same—more than 40 feet,” the official clarified.

He said previously that roof-top gardening was mandatory on 100 percent of buildings with more than four storeys.

“All buildings of four stories or below will have roof-top gardening on 50 percent area,” he added.

Also, Asaduz Zaman was posted as the new chief town planner of the authority.

PLANTATION: A tree-plantation campaign has been started by the Lahore Waste Management Company at its Mehmood Boti Compost Plant and the Ring Road Service Lanes. Up to 200 saplings were planted on Thursday, the first day of the drive. An official said 50,000 saplings would be planted this spring. Also, a plantation campaign under the Clean Campus Ambassador Programme would be launched this year, under which students from schools, colleges, and universities would be involved in the LWMC plantation campaign.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2023