RAWALPINDI, April 20: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) has decided to relax the one-month ban on the construction of plazas in the city, a source said on Sunday.

The ban had been imposed about nine days ago for holding a survey of under-construction commercial buildings to check quality of work and detect design violations, if any.

The TMA, in consultation with the provincial local government department, has, in principle, decided to ease the ban for those plaza owners who have been undertaking construction according to the approved design.

The plaza owners will be asked to furnish two affidavits, certifying that they will not violate the approved design and ensure quality construction.

The architect concerned will also be required to furnish a similar affidavit, certifying that he/she has personally monitored the construction, and that it is up to the required construction standards.

Under the new policy, those plaza owners, who have submitted their commercialization and other related fees, but are yet to get their building designs approved because of certain objections, will be asked to satisfy the queries and remove the snags.

“The TMA will then process their cases at the earliest so that they, too, can resume their construction work,” the source said.

However, the authorities have decided to be strict with those who have committed design violations and other irregularities in construction, it has been learnt.

In a related development, the TMA has been asked by the provincial local government department to effectively pursue the case against owners of Bano Arcade, who have been granted bail by a court.

The TMA will now be engaging the district attorney in the case. Seven people were killed due to the collapse of Bano Arcade, couple of weeks ago. It is believed that the tragedy had occurred due to poor construction material and violation of the approved building design.