08-16-2010, 04:24 PM
LAHORE - In sheer violation of Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001, City District Government Lahore has constituted a four-member committee for granting final approval to building plans in the City, officials told TheNation on Friday.
The committee will evaluate and approve building plans by exercising the powers of District Coordination Officer (DCO) Lahore. Executive District Officer (EDO) Works and Services Waqar Goraya heads the Committee. Other members will be District Officer Architect Muhammad Taloot, DO Spatial Planning Qamar Islam and DO Roads 2.
Terming constitution of committee as sheer violation of PLGO 2001, the officials said that the City fathers were trying to correct previous wrongs by committing violations after violations.
“Previously, the government taken back powers of approving building plans from Town Municipal Administrations (TMAs).
Under the PLGO 2001, processing and approval of building plans falls under the preview of TMAs. The Punjab Government conferred powers of giving final approval to building plans on DCO Lahore. As such the relevant staff of all the TMAs was put on the disposal of DO Spatial Planning,” said an official requesting anonymity, adding, that all these steps were contradictory to the spirit of PLGO 2001.
“Instead of correcting the previous wrongs, the DCO has committed another violation by delegating his powers to a four-member committee,” he said, adding, the DCO shifted the responsibilities on his subordinates to save own skin in case of approval of faulty building plans.
The committee will evaluate and approve building plans by exercising the powers of District Coordination Officer (DCO) Lahore. Executive District Officer (EDO) Works and Services Waqar Goraya heads the Committee. Other members will be District Officer Architect Muhammad Taloot, DO Spatial Planning Qamar Islam and DO Roads 2.
Terming constitution of committee as sheer violation of PLGO 2001, the officials said that the City fathers were trying to correct previous wrongs by committing violations after violations.
“Previously, the government taken back powers of approving building plans from Town Municipal Administrations (TMAs).
Under the PLGO 2001, processing and approval of building plans falls under the preview of TMAs. The Punjab Government conferred powers of giving final approval to building plans on DCO Lahore. As such the relevant staff of all the TMAs was put on the disposal of DO Spatial Planning,” said an official requesting anonymity, adding, that all these steps were contradictory to the spirit of PLGO 2001.
“Instead of correcting the previous wrongs, the DCO has committed another violation by delegating his powers to a four-member committee,” he said, adding, the DCO shifted the responsibilities on his subordinates to save own skin in case of approval of faulty building plans.