Encroachments in different markets as well as green belts in the Capital are increasing with each passing day due to negligence of Capital Development Authority (CDA) to enforce its rules. A senior CDA official said that encroachment is a clear violation of the civic body's bye-laws, which strictly forbid illegal occupation. But the enforcement directorate of CDA is not taking appropriate measures and thereby giving a free hand to encroachers, which he warned, will turn the city into Raja Bazaar soon.
According to a random survey conducted by this scribe different markets including Aabpara, Faizabad, Melody, Blue Area, Super Market, Jinnah Super, Karachi Company and other small markets in various residential sectors, roadsides, footpaths and shop fronts are under the control of encroachers.
In Blue Area and Aabpara, the traders, especially those dealing in electronic goods, are routinely placing their goods on footpaths in violation of CDA rules, which disallow showcasing goods outside shops and prescribe seizure of such goods. In Faizabad vendors could be seen selling goods on footpaths, forcing the pedestrians to use heavily trafficked roads. Similarly in the residential areas of the city, people violate CDA bye-laws by dumping building materials on CDA land.
A CDA official said on the condition of anonymity that the failure of the Enforcement Directorate to take action against vendors as well as other encroachers was the main reason for the growing encroachment in the city. "The CDA staff does not take action against those who set up their stalls on footpaths in front of shops, as most of them regularly bribe the low-ranking officials of CDA's relevant directorate" he said. He said that a number of owners of different hotels, restaurants and shops in different parts of the city encroach upon the CDA land and cause inconvenience to the pedestrians.
The official said that in connivance with CDA, a large number of people have encroached upon green belts and set up kiosks which badly affect the beauty of city. A number of citizens while talking to Business Recorder said that CDA needs to take stern action against the encroachers to maintain the beauty of the city and to protect its land.