Lahore: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has been given a free hand for conducting its ongoing operation against illegal housing schemes in the city, a news source reported. The aim of this provision is to intensify the activity of the said drive, especially against schemes that partially or completely infringe on the city’s green areas.
A source from LDA’s metropolitan planning wing recently stated that the authority has orders to exercise a free hand in executing the operation. He added that LDA has been allowed to dismantle infrastructure, which includes management offices and boundary walls.
The source further informed that LDA officials have instructions to focus on housing schemes that fall within the green areas defined according to Lahore’s master plan. He stated that the operation began a couple of months ago – following the top management’s decisions.
LDA has so far taken action against 135 illegal housing schemes by dismantling their infrastructure, the official added. He said that up to 30 of these housing developments partially or completely transgressed in the ‘green area’ locations mentioned above.
According to this source, LDA has also sent references against housing schemes in green areas to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Furthermore, he requested the public to check the legal status of a housing scheme before engaging in any monetary transactions with its management. To this end, he said that the LDA’s Metropolitan Wing can be contacted for further support.
Lastly, the LDA official revealed that the civic body had orders to rid Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Nankana from illegal housing schemes within the next two months. Also, the LDA will complete a tree plantation campaign in all approved housing schemes under the Prime Minister’s Clean and Green Pakistan initiative.
