LAHORE – With the purpose to control unplanned construction and to generate additional revenue, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to implement building bylaws in 153 Katchi Abadis in its governed area, sources informed The Nation on Tuesday.
According to the sources, the administration has completed all the spadework and the building bylaws would be implemented after getting final approval from the LDA Governing Body.
Besides depriving LDA of income in the head of town planning, absence of building bylaws was causing unplanned construction and encouraging encroachments. Without getting any penny from these Katchi Abadis, LDA was spending huge amount on the development work.
Till 1996, there were 145 registered Katchi Abadis in LDA governed area. Addition of eight more Katchi Abadis after 1996 had now brought the tally to 153 with 37,888 houses.
“Administration has proposed creation of a separate directorate for controlling construction work in these Katchi Abadis. This directorate will have no administrative link with the LDA Town Planning Wing. The residents will have to prepare and get approved building plan before initiating any construction work or bringing change in any existing structure”, revealed an LDA official. He said the building bylaws would definitely be implemented as Director General LDA Umar Rasool was serious to control haphazard and unplanned construction in these Katchi Abadis.
He, however, said the residents would be given relaxation in leaving certain space as set back due to the reason that the houses were constructed on far less area than in normal housing schemes.