Non-conforming use of land: CDA to continue drive against private schools

ISLAMABAD: Having closed a number of private schools operating in the residential areas of the city, the top civic body in the capital on Thursday decided to continue this operation.

The decision was made during a board meeting of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday. The policy board deliberated over 20 summaries, including 14 which were included in the agenda and six which were not included. Most of the items were approved by the board with a few summaries rejected or deferred.

A summary regarding the sealing of private schools was presented before policy board which noted that the CDA had sealed 53 private schools in the city for non-conforming use of residential properties in compliance with directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). These schools were closed during the summer vacations and are located in Sectors F-6, F-7, F-8, G-6 and I-8.
The summary further said that the CDA’s Building Control Directorate had come under immense pressure from private schools and parents of students for closing down these schools. While the schools were closed during the two-month-long summer vacations, the holidays are due to end soon and uncertainty has been created for parents.

However, the chairman of the board opposed the summary and said that authority had launched an operation on the directions of the IHC. Moreover, he said that CDA regulations also prohibit commercial activities in residential areas, including schools.

The board decided that operations against private schools would continue in the future.

However, an exception was made for preschools. The chairman of the board, though directed that such plots would be marked for auction.

The board also rejected another summary from planning wing for hiring the services of a consultant to monitor private housing societies.

The board directed the planning wing to set up its own directorate for monitoring and regulating private housing societies instead of hiring consultants.

A summary presented by the Land and Estate Directorate regarding revised policy for transfer of plots and payment plans for allotted plots in Park Enclave Phase-II was approved by the board.

The board decided that allottees would be allowed to transfer their plots once they have cleared all of their outstanding dues.

The CDA had sold more than 300 plots in the Park Enclave extension on Park Road in January 2016. The authority was supposed to develop the area within a year. During this period, allottees were supposed to deposit their payments in instalments.

However, CDA failed to develop the scheme on the ground. In view of this, allottees had stopped depositing their instalments.

Now, the CDA has decided to revise the payment plan and permissions for transferring plots to recuperate the money.

The board also rejected a summary to lease alternate plots for nurseries located in Sector H-9 which fall in the right of way of the Kashmir Highway.

The planning wing had presented a summary for creating 46 plots which would be leased out to private nurseries. The board deliberated over the issue and observed that the nurseries were established on orchid plots and were operating illegally. Hence no alternate plot could be leased out along the Kashmir Highway to accommodate them.

A summary to defer receipts of corner charges and waive charges for delayed payment on corner prices of certain plots in the Park Enclave Scheme was also approved.

The board also rejected another summary presented by administration wing seeking reversal of a decision the board had made in June 2017 on vacating government accommodations which had been allotted a residential plot or flat by the authority or any other government agency to either them or their spouse.

The summary sought to overturn the decision of the board to the extent of those government employees who had been allotted a plot or flat but did not build their houses.

Source: Express Tribune