The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday decided to carry out a survey of encroachments in Islamabad's rural areas in preparation for a drive to demolish illegal structures.
The decision was taken in a meeting presided over by CDA chairman Kamran Lashari and attended, among others, by Islamabad chief commissioner, IG Police and directors of land, rural planning and anti-encroachment wings.
Once the encroachments are identified action will be initiated in co-ordination with Islamabad police and the department dealing with the rural areas, a CDA official said.
The survey report will be presented to the CDA management within a week, he said.
In the rural areas the union councils at present issue no objection certificate to the local people for undertaking any construction, besides having authority to take action against encroachments.
The meeting decided to take necessary administrative and legal steps so as to make it compulsory for union councils to obtain approval from the CDA before issuing no objection certificate, the official said.
The meeting also discussed at length the building by-laws to remove loopholes and pave the way for the CDA management to take effective action against encroachers. Sources said the areas where encroachments mainly occur are Turnol, Sihala, Barakahu and Saidpur.
The CDA has also plans to deal with the problem of encroachments in Zone IV, an area earmarked for recreation and sports facilities.