Trade licence for unauthorised constructions won’t stop

Though the Cantonment Board says it views the issue of illegal constructions seriously,it has decided that since trade licences bring the board revenue it will continue to issue them even in cases of unauthorised constructions. In fact,it has issued a notice asking people to come forward and collect their licences till the end of next month,failing which they would be fined. The PCB has decided to deal with the issue of unauthorised constructions separately by moving court against those commercial establishments which have violated rules.

PCB’s nominated member,Col S V Shrotri,confirmed that the earlier resolution in which the board had decided to take action against all those commercial establishments which have been raised illegally has been put on hold.

We have decided that the trade licences will also be issued even to those establishments which have been found raising unauthorised constructions.’’

“The issue of illegal constructions will be dealt separately by moving the court against those commercial establishments,’’ added Shrotri.

The Cantoment Board has also put on hold the action of not renewing the trade licences against those commercial establishments which have been found violating the norms. However,its decision to issue the trade licences has come despite strong protests by some elected members that it will only ‘promote illegality’.

According to officials,after a resolution by PCB in February this year that no trade licences will be issued against those constructions which have been raised unathorisedly,it identified a number of such constructions.

Through a survey,more than 40 constructions were found to have been raised in violation of norms in the cantonment area . The PCB noted that people have converted the basement of their buildings reserved for parking into commercial space and even the commercial establishments were raised in residential areas. Moreover,some buildings were found to have been reconstructed in violation of norms and even cases of establishments raising additional illegal floors was noticed.

However,the PCB has not taken any action against such commercial establishments. Now,the PCB notice asking people to come forward to get trade licences has come despite the protests by some elected members.

“If the cantonment board issues licences to even those commercial establishments which have been established illegally,it will promote illegality. We have already objected to this in the cantonment board meeting and we will oppose this. We are seeking action against those establishments which have been raised against the rules and have asked PCB to take action in cases where the commercial establishments have been raised in residential areas,’’ said another PCB member Manzoor Nazir Sheikh.