ISLAMABAD: After two unauthorised buildings built in front of the spillways of Rawal Dam by the Punjab government, private developers have also launched construction activities in the prohibited area.

Recently, the Punjab government raised the structures without its building plans approved by CDA in front of the spillways along the Park Road.

Sources in the environment wing said now some developers had also started construction activities in the area which falls in Zone III and Margalla Hills National Park.

An officer of the environment wing said the planning wing of the CDA had recently written a letter to the director environment regional in this regard.

CDA planning wing has written to director environment regional for action against unauthorised activity in front of Rawal Dam spillways, says official

The letter (available with Dawn) dated November 26 stated: “It has been observed that an illegal development in progress in the East of National Institute of Health (NIH)… as per Master plan of Islamabad this area falls in Zone-3 and also in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), where no such development is allowed under the provision of ICT Zoning Regulations 1992 and MHNP Management Plan.”

The letter added: “It is therefore, requested that necessary action against illegal development being made in violation of master plan and zoning regulations may be taken in collaboration with Directorate General (Environment) and Building & Housing Control, under intimation to this office, in best interest of public and authority.”

The environment wing was also advised to get assistance of the CDA enforcement wing if needed.

It is relevant to note here that the new construction is taking place near the NIH and the area where recently two unauthorised buildings were constructed by the Punjab government.

The land in front of the spillways, where the two buildings were constructed, belonged to the Punjab government. However, as per rules and regulations, without approval of building plans no construction can take place anywhere in Islamabad.

On the other hand, as per CDA’s regulations the land falls in Zone III and MHNP area where construction is prohibited.

Apparently encouraged by the construction made by the Punjab government, private developers also started construction activities in the area.

However, sources said private developers had not yet constructed any structure but had started land leveling in the area, which was also a violation of the CDA rules.

An official of the environment wing also said the planning wing had shared Google image along with the letter which showed that land was being leveled.

Meanwhile, an official of the building control confirmed to Dawn that no building plan of the Punjab government had been approved near the spillway. He said that as per rules and regulations, the CDA can’t approve any building plan in the area.

Asked why action was not taken, the official said in May-June this year “After issuing notices, we also sealed both the buildings.”

On the other hand, another official said he was sure that both the buildings had been sealed but alleged that work on one of the structures still continued.

Besides the construction activities, sources said a large number of plots in the adjacent area had been carved out after allegedly narrowing Korang River near Margalla Town by private developers in the last one year or so. This activity has taken place in the rear of Margalla Town.

Supporting his views, the official urged the CDA management to check the activity through Google image of the last two years to reach the truth.

“Goolge image will clear everything. We will look into this issue as well,” an officer of the civic agency said.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024