ISLAMABAD: In a tit-for-tat move against Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-Epa)’s direction to stop work on Margalla Avenue, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued two notices to the environment watchdog asking it to bring its building under conforming use and remove encroachment from an adjacent plot.

       According to the EPA, Margalla Avenue was being constructed without an environment impact assessment (EIA). Besides, a portion of the road also passes through Margalla Hills National Park.

       The CDA earlier termed the environment body’s order illegal, stating that the road was being constructed in accordance with Islamabad’s master plan of 1960 and under the CDA ordinance the agency can’t direct the civic agency to stop the work.

       When both the organisations were at loggerhead, the civic agency issued the notices, pointing out that the EPA was an encroacher as it had occupied an adjacent plot of the CDA by constructing rooms and planting trees there.

       Civic agency says environment watchdog using research building as offices, encroaching plot

       One of the notices issued by the building control section said a building meant for research and training centre was being used as offices of the EPA.

       The notice said a firefighting system had also not been installed in the building as per the CDA standards.

       Meanwhile, another notice issued by the director land said: “Environment Research Training Centre under the administrative control of the Ministry of Climate Change is an encroachment on Plot No 41, Sector H-8/2.”

       The plot was a public property and the encroachment would be removed under Section 4,5,6,7 and 8 of the Building Control Regulations 2020, the notice said, adding the encroachment was a serious violation of the Public Properties (Removal of Encroachment) Ordinance 2021.

       “You are hereby issued a show-cause notice under Section 3 of the ordinance to remove the encroachment within seven days of the issuance of this notice. If you failed to remove the encroachment, the cost of demolition and removal of structure will be recovered from the unauthorised occupant of the structure under Section 6 of the ordinance,” the notice said.

       On the other hand, CDA officials alleged that the EPA was creating hurdles in completion of the Margalla Road by raising unnecessary questions which did not fall in its jurisdiction.

       When contacted, a senior officer of the EPA wishing not to be named said the agency’s notice to the CDA on Margalla Road construction was justified and in accordance with rules and regulations. The officer said the CDA can’t construct a road without an EIA.

       About the notices issued by the CDA, the officer said EPA would respond to them.

       “We have not committed any violation. The research and training centre requires offices and we set up offices in accordance with rules and regulations,” the officer said. “As far as encroachment on the adjacent plot is concerned, we did not encroach on it rather have planted trees there. Some structure like a room was already constructed there by a contractor,” the officer said.

       Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2021