Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has conducted an operation against illegal constructions in Food Street situated near the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort, a news source reported.
The authority razed the additional storeys that were found to be in violation of the requisite building by-laws. Additionally, it issued warnings to the hotels along the Food Street declaring that no additions shall be made to their premises in violation of the rules and regulations.
WCLA had declared this area as a ‘Buffer Zone’. According to building by-laws, building heights should not exceed 60 feet in this zone.
Previously, WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari had taken notice of the additional constructions. On his orders, the authority razed all constructions exceeding 60 feet using heavy machinery. The operation continued for several hours.
WCLA warned the hotels on Food Street that violation of building by-laws would result in fine payments and action. The authority’s officials stated that they have declared the area consisting of the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Food Street, and other historical buildings as buffer zones because of their significance to the history as well as to the beatification of Lahore. They added that buildings violating the by-laws deteriorated the beauty of the city, along with creating a number of other problems.
