ISLAMABAD: Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has issued notices to two popular food outlets for allegedly encroaching upon civic agency’s land and for environmental destruction.

An official of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) of MCI told Dawn that license holders of Das Perdas Restaurant that is operating in Saidpur Village and Snack Bar located in Shakarparian, near park have been violating term and condition of their licences.

He said that on July 11, DMA served them notices to pay outstanding dues for using state land, but so far they have not complied with the notices.

According to notice issued to operator of Snack Bar, he is accused of illegally utilising additional land.

“Furthermore, our attention has been drawn to the process of utilising the unauthorised land, your restaurant management caused unimaginable loss to the environment, which includes cutting down of trees and improper disposal of hotel waste and garbage in the green prohibited areas.

“You are herby advised into your own interest to make payment on account of extra land measuring 10039.78 square yard from the period July 2022 to July 2023 used by your restaurant within three days of issuance of this notice.

Municipal administration is seeking an amount of Rs36.14 million for the unauthorised use of state land. You are further directed to immediately stop the use of unauthorised use of state land and take necessary measures to restore the affected area to its original state,” read the notice, which directed the alleged violators to replant the trees, in lieu of chopped ones.

Meanwhile, the DMA also issued a notice to license holder of Das Perdes, stating that he was allowed 979 square feet covered area, but as per site visit, he had constructed an hall on an area of 1748 sq ft. “This violation caused loss of Rs13.632 million to the authority and same is required to be deposited to the account of MCI.

The notice further said that illegal cabins on an area of 116 sq ft were also constructed and the cost of extra space comes to Rs33 million.

“You have been allowed a total 6777 sq ft open space. However, as per site visit an area of 7465 sq ft has been occupied by your restaurant.”

The notice further said: “An amount of Rs43.44 million was required to be paid by your restaurant as agreed licence fee till December 2023.

However, as per record you have paid around Rs15 million. An amount of Rs 28.44 million is outstanding.

This amount does not include the extra land used by restaurant beyond designated spaces, read the notice, adding that you are directed to deposit Rs61.44 million (actual license fees, extra land utilized) within seven days.

Not only the said two licence holders have allegedly been violating term and condition of their licenses, but other allottees of kiosks, etc., have also allegedly been violating their term and conditions.

When contacted Chief Executive Officer of Des Perdes, Touqueer Ahmed contested the notice. He said that amount calculated by DMA is incorrect, therefore, notice in question is disputed.

He said that he had also filed a court case against DMA and court suspended this notice. “Today, I also held meeting with officials of DMA. We are pleading to review this notice and actual amount, if any, is pending against us, we will pay. We made construction with due permission while we are also using open spaces with permission and fee,” he said.

Whereas, operator of Snack Bar Shakarparian, Abu Bakar Khan denied the allegations of tree cutting and said that he never cut trees, rather he planted new trees for beautification in the area. To a query, about outstanding amount mentioned in the notice, he said that he is in touch with DMA to pay his dues, adding that he had some objections on a portion of open space, and he is holding meeting with the DMA in this regard.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2023