ISLAMABAD: Special magistrate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has pointed out Illegal construction on state and private land in various areas of the Capital.

Sources said that illegal construction has been taking place in various areas particularly in Zone III, Zone IV and even right of natural streams mainly Korang upstream and downstream, has been facing alleged illegal construction activities.

“There is need to demarcate all natural streams of Islamabad particularly Korang nullah as there are several complaints of encroachment on right of ways of nullahs,” said an official.

Meanwhile, CDA’s special magistrate Sardar Mohammad Asif through a notice, which was addressed to director general Enforcement, deputy director general Environment, assistant director anti-encroachment cell and others highlighted illegal construction activities on state land and private land.

“It has come to the notice of this office as many complaints were also received that in Zone III, Shahallah Ditta area, Talar, Gokina, Saidpur, Bari Imam and Shahdhra, etc., and in other Zones of Islamabad, illegal construction is taking place onCDA’s land and private land. Greenbelts have also been encroached upon, which is a violation of CDA’s master plan,” read the notice of magistrate.

It said that such encroachment and illegal construction has been destroying environment of Islamabad.

The notice directed the relevant officers of CDA to take action against the violations and submit a report within seven days. Sources in CDA said that on acquired land of the civic agency in Tarli and Tramri area new construction has taken place in recent years.

The sources also alleged that in Jaba Teli area, a large number of commercial shops were also constructed by locals during the last one years and so. New construction also took place along Lehtrar Road by small illegal housing operators in gray area, where CDA also had large chunk of acquired land.

Meanwhile, construction is also taking place in apparent right of way of Korang area in Bhara Kahu and rear side of Margalla Town, which needed to be checked by the CDA to determine if construction is taking place on right of way or otherwise. “Apparently, the construction is taking place in right of way of Korang river,” said an official.

An official of CDA said that the civic agency had a specialised wing- namely Geo-Spatial Technology, which should be utilized for mapping all acquired land of CDA to avoid illegal construction on it.

He said that in various areas of Islamabad CDAhad huge chunk of acquired land which is prone to encroachment while in various areas, such as Bari Imam and Jaba Tali areas, huge construction had already taken place on CDA’s land. “There should be real time monitoring of CDA’s acquired land through technology while satellite imaginary should also be used to protect CDA’s land,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2025