ISLAMABAD: Though the federal cabinet did not take up the agenda item on the unregulated E-11 in its meeting on Tuesday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Ali Nawaz Awan said buildings constructed on the right of way of drains in the sector would be razed.

According to the agenda, the cabinet was supposed to decide the fate of the unregulated sector but the summary in this regard was withdrawn by the ministry concerned.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID), Mr Awan, who is the prime minister’s special assistant on CDA affairs, said all buildings constructed on the right of nullahs in E-11 would be razed.

He said the width of nullahs in the sector was reduced by a housing society with the permission of the CDA from 40ft to 18ft. Commercial and residential plots were carved out after narrowing down the drain. Last month, E-11/2 witnessed urban flooding due to the narrowed nullah that claimed the life of a woman and her child.

The SAPM said the nullah had around 100ft right of way before entering E-11 but when it entered the sector its width reduced to 18ft. He said soon after the incident, three inquiries were conducted.

It was established that on the day the whole city was normal but there was flooding only in E-11. He said the CDA had not only allowed narrowing down of the nullah in 2012 but also allowed covering it.

Says CDA not only permitted narrowing of drain, but also allowed covering it; Cabinet drops agenda item on unregulated sector

There was a dissent to the permission by a deputy director but permission was granted by the member planning and then down to the town planner. Those involved are being charge-sheeted, he added.

He said it has also been found that the society had showed slackness in clearing the nullah which was its responsibility.

Mr Awan, who is also MNA from Islamabad, said during the inquiry the role of all concerned officers will be thrashed out.

“There should be a difference between those who approved the file and one who opposed the move,” he said.

He added that it has also been decided that a regulatory framework for the entire city would be developed so that multiple organisations such as the Cooperative Department of Islamabad, CDA etc., would be merged and the civic agency would be given the main role to regulate the development in the city.

Mr Awan said buildings built on nullahs would be razed and losses recouped by the developers while government servants involved in itwill be prosecuted.

Dozens of buildings (both residential and commercial) are built on the right of way of nullahs in E-11. Even the owners of high-rise apartment buildings have also encroached on nullahs.

“We will take action across the board,” the SAPM said, adding a hydrological and infrastructure study will also be carried out on housing schemes and other buildings.

The revenue estate of Golra (which comprised E-11, E-12, F-12 and D-12) was exempted by former president Ayub Khan from land acquisition. Later in the 80s, the then president Ziaul Haq confined the Golra estate to E-11 only.

Due to the exempted status, E-11 remained a neglected sector and the CDA failed to enforce its bylaws there. This resulted in the mushroom growth of buildings.

Following the flooding, the CDA prepared a summary for the federal cabinet, seeking the revocation of orders of the former presidents regarding E-11 so that it could implement its bylaws of Zone I in this sector too.

In the summary, the CDA also stated that it would raze buildings constructed on nullahs. But, surprisingly, the summary was not taken up in the cabinet meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2021