Islamabad - Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) of Capital Development Authority has continued operation against illegal Fiber Optic networks and excavation for networking purpose in the Federal Capital.
Chairman Capital Development Authority Maroof Afzal has reiterated a firm action and directed the DMA to show zero tolerance towards illegal expansion of networks as such illegal networking and excavation work in the capital city is not only causing damage to the infrastructure and major cause of pollution but also posing immense financial loss to the Authority.
Capital Development Authority has already surrendered millions of rupees worth of rights-of-way area along different roads free of cost to National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which is executing the project through the Chinese firm to lay fiber optic lines for the project.
The land was surrendered on directions from the Interior Ministry.
The chairman once again claimed that Capital Development Authority would not allow its land for any kind of illegal networking of cables, adding that operation against the illegal excavation and networking of cables would carry on. The operation is in continuation to the actions against illegal activities and to bring the fiber optics under the formal system of tax net to increase revenue generation for the Authority.
During a recent operation, especially constituted Task Force of DMA carried out an operation and unearthed almost five (05) kilometers long illegally laid network from Rawal Chowk to Banni Gala. Teams of DMA also confiscated 10KM length of ducts and other material used for digging purpose. Excavation machinery was also used during the operation.
Capital Development Authority officials have directed the DMA to continue operation against the illegal cable networking across the board in the Islamabad without fear or favour. He directed DMA to utilize all available recourses to curb such activities.
Capital Development Authority requested the residents to inform Telecom Unit in DMA if they found any illegal activities in their surroundings so that necessary action could be taken against such violators.
The Authority also asked all the stakeholders to adopt legal way to avoid their loss as the procedure for obtaining NOC from Capital Development Authority has been made user friendly and transparent.
Previously, Capital Development Authority had initiated a complaint about commercial usage of 83.5km of land marked as right-of-way of different Islamabad roads by a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunication equipment and services provider, currently executing the Rs12.6 billion ($124 million) Islamabad Safe City Project. But the Authority did not get anything in spite of his huge sounded statements.
Right-of-way is an area along a road that is reserved for the future addition of lanes.
The Capital Development Authority usually charges a nominal amount from government-owned services providers for laying services lines or other equipment on its rights-of-way, while private sector service providers are charged around Rs700 per metre.