ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is considering replacing its enforcement team for its failure to remove encroachments in the city.

The civic agency has decided to utilise ex-army officials, who are deputed in the emergency and disaster management (EDM), to carry out the task.

Though the CDA has been carrying out anti-encroachment campaigns, during the last many decades encroachments increased in the city. The civic body has again displayed banners in the markets warning the traders that it would launch an operation if they did not remove the encroachments within three days.

An official of the CDA requesting not to be identified said the CDA had failed to remove the encroachments.

The team will be replaced with ex-armymen for its failure to remove encroachments

“Constant vigilance and survey of different sectors is required to remove the encroachments but unfortunately the staff of the enforcement wing does not ensure the removal of encroachments because it has allegedly developed links with the encroachment mafia,” he said.

“A proposal has been floated in the CDA to replace the staff of the enforcement wing with a team from the EDM. At the moment, there are 600 officials, including ex-armymen, in the EDM.

Meanwhile, in a statement the CDA on Friday stated that on the direction of Chairman Maroof Afzal, the enforcement directorate had finalised a strategy to remove encroachments from different business centres.

Member estate and administration Amer Ali Ahmed has directed Deputy Director General Enforcement Asia Gul to take steps for the removal of the encroachments.

When contacted, Ms Gul said the operation would be started from Sector F-11.

“Each sector will be cleared in a week. However, the staff of the enforcement wing will be removed and 600 officials, including ex-armymen from the EDM, will be shifted to the enforcement wing to ensure an effective operation,” she said.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2014