12-04-2009, 12:48 PM
LAHORE - The mafia of building inspectors, whose wings were clipped to check their illegal activities two months back first time in the history of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), is back with all its mighty powers as the LDA re-engage all these inspectors to carry out the task of monitoring and inspecting the construction of residential as well as commercial buildings in the City.
LDA director Coordination & Implementation Sukrat Amman Rana has issued a letter to Directorate of Enforcement that officials of the Directorate and building inspectors of the Town Planning Wing will submit their separate reports about various activities in LDA housing schemes. The letter said these buildings inspectors would be responsible to check building map, ownership document and other property related issue. So far four building inspectors, who had been posted in other departments after taking back their building inspection powers, had been reappointed for the same task. These building inspectors include Syed Munir Jafari, Anjum Saleem and Akmal Butt.
The return of building inspectors has supported the fact that their tentacles have so much pierced into the LDA’s entire body that even CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif’s strict directives to bridle them could not weaken their influence and power.
Re-empowering those who earned a bad name for the LDA flouting building bylaws to mint money is considered to be a big shift in the policy of the LDA harping the mantra of merit and good governance since the Umer Rasool assumed his charge as Director General of the LDA. The step has unearthed the deep collusion between LDA high ups and inspectors mafia.
The LDA’s clandestine move has racked up a storm in different government and non-government circles casting chill over their euphoric mood and moral. So much so public who heaved a sigh of relief when powers of building inspectors were withdrawn, is in a state of anxiety.
It may be recalled that CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has expressed dismay over building inspectors for giving boost to commercialisation, illegal construction against building bylaws had directed to take action against them. On this, LDA DG Umer Rasool had ordered for withdrawing the powers of inspecting of under-construction buildings, ensuring implementation of building bylaws and stopping illegal commercialisation from all 23 building inspectors on September 30.
LDA director Coordination & Implementation Sukrat Amman Rana has issued a letter to Directorate of Enforcement that officials of the Directorate and building inspectors of the Town Planning Wing will submit their separate reports about various activities in LDA housing schemes. The letter said these buildings inspectors would be responsible to check building map, ownership document and other property related issue. So far four building inspectors, who had been posted in other departments after taking back their building inspection powers, had been reappointed for the same task. These building inspectors include Syed Munir Jafari, Anjum Saleem and Akmal Butt.
The return of building inspectors has supported the fact that their tentacles have so much pierced into the LDA’s entire body that even CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif’s strict directives to bridle them could not weaken their influence and power.
Re-empowering those who earned a bad name for the LDA flouting building bylaws to mint money is considered to be a big shift in the policy of the LDA harping the mantra of merit and good governance since the Umer Rasool assumed his charge as Director General of the LDA. The step has unearthed the deep collusion between LDA high ups and inspectors mafia.
The LDA’s clandestine move has racked up a storm in different government and non-government circles casting chill over their euphoric mood and moral. So much so public who heaved a sigh of relief when powers of building inspectors were withdrawn, is in a state of anxiety.
It may be recalled that CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has expressed dismay over building inspectors for giving boost to commercialisation, illegal construction against building bylaws had directed to take action against them. On this, LDA DG Umer Rasool had ordered for withdrawing the powers of inspecting of under-construction buildings, ensuring implementation of building bylaws and stopping illegal commercialisation from all 23 building inspectors on September 30.