Islamabad - Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to launch a crackdown on illegal kiosks in the city after the audit authorities pointed out that the authority demolished only 269 such kiosks out of the assignment, it has been learnt.
Sources in the CDA said that Directorate of Municipal Administration had forwarded a list of illegal kiosks, tea stalls, etc. built up until the audit year 2-15-16 in sector G-7, G-5, G-6 Aabpara market, Melody market, Embassy Road G-6 etc to the Enforcement Directorate for action against these illegal settlements. The audit para framed by the inspecting officer during audit for the year 2015-16 observed that Enforcement Directorate, CDA demolished only 269 illegal kiosks, tea stalls and the remaining are still functional. “Directorate of Enforcement, CDA has failed to complete its assignment after ignoring remaining hundreds of illegal kiosks. Thus non-completion /non achievement of the targets assigned by the director of municipal administration needs to be explained. Despite repeated instructions as well as written notices to the assistant directors, inspectors, no one has undertaken action against the khokhas as per list provided by DMA,” the audit observed.
In the light of the audit observation, the authorities at the Enforcement Directorate have directed deputy director operation to fix responsibility for non-compliance of the assignment and once again direct the concerned to take action against illegal kiosks within and out of the municipal limits of Islamabad. The sources said that the Enforcement Directorate is all set to launch a crackdown on illegal kiosks but political pressure from the newly-elected public representatives was barring it from taking any step in this regard.
Meanwhile, Mayor Islamabad and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Sheikh Anser Aziz said that by reviving of Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) Directorate, which remained redundant for more than eight years, funds amounting to Rs90 million have been saved from one project i.e road carpeting and repair/maintenance of Constitution Avenue.
He said that tender for road carpeting and repair/maintenance amounting to Rs180 million were issued, however, it was decided to cancel the tenders and revitalise dysfunctional MPO directorate by utilising available resources and now this project would be completed with funds amounting to Rs90 million instead of Rs180 million. He said that if we continue with this track, very soon MPO Directorate will be turned into profitable formation and will not only contribute toward the development of the city but also help generate handsome revenue by rendering its services for other departments. He said that an example of self-reliance will be set by turning a nonoperational department into a profitable one. He expressed these views while inaugurating road carpeting and repair/maintenance of Constitution Avenue.