HYDERABAD, Nov 1: The Director of Hyderabad’s Town Planning Department, Tahir Ahmed, has drawn the attention of DCO Sukkur to violations of Sindh government order regarding construction of multi-storeyed buildings in the district.

He said the Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) of New and Old Sukkur need to be restrained from approving building plans of multi-storeyed/high-rise buildings.

In a communication addressed to the DCO, he said the Town Planning Department was declared an Authority for Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jacobabad and Thatta under the Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979/82.

He said in 2001, it was again declared an Authority vide the Local Government Department circular of July 7, 2007.

According to Tahir Ahmed, the relevant minister in a meeting of all the TMOs of Sindh (excluding Karachi) on September 8, 2007 in Hyderabad had directed the TMAs not to approve construction of multi-storeyed, commercial/public buildings. He regretted that the government orders had not been complied with and building plans were being approved by the TMAs.

He said the survey undertaken by his department showed such buildings in Sukkur were being constructed without following set parameters.

He said there was lack of proper soil investigation, vetting of steel-structure, provision for earthquake resistance in accordance to the Building Code of Pakistan (Seismic Provision 2007), water supply, sewerage and drainage facilities, and easement right pertaining to air, light, and privacy.

He said no care was being taken to keep proper width of roads, parking facility, fire-fighting equipment, electricity and gas, and traffic circulation.