The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued notices to over 63 educational institutions, asking them to regularize their buildings by paying 10% fee for the commercial use of the premises or shift to a different place.
The issuance of notices to the educational institutions came following the survey of the city. Notably, the institutions are operating in Asghar Mall Scheme, Mohanpura, Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Murree Road, Dhoke Khabba and other areas.
Noting to this, the Director General of RDA, General Saif Anwar Jappa said that, “The civic body had completed the survey of the schools and colleges to regularize them through the payment of an annual fee and parking arrangements on their premises for avoiding traffic congestion on roads.”
As per DG Jappa, “The private schools and colleges would have to pay 10% of the rental value of their building, as per the official rate of the property, for regularization.”
He added that the RDA wanted to start an operation against the ‘illegal’ educational institutions but Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha made decision to give them time till the end of the academic year.
The decision was taken so that the educational activities of the children were not interrupted by the RDA action and they could complete their academic year without any hindrance. He said that, “In the light of this decision, it is said that all the school owners who have built schools in the residential buildings without the approval are directed to regularize the schools as per the law or stop this unauthorized use.
In this regard, they will submit an affidavit within 15 days to the RDA that they were ready to legalise their schools or stop the “illegal use of these buildings”.
According to the official, “If the school buildings are not regularised then the owners of these buildings will have to pay a fine of Rs1,000 per day until the use of the residential building for the purpose of a school is regularized.”
Similarly, if the affidavit is not submitted within 15 days, legal action will be taken against the institutions.
Whereas, on the other hand, because of the presence of the private schools on the main roads of the city, traffic was badly affected and commuters faced trouble. Majority of the private schools and colleges failed to produce the parking areas on their premises and the people had no other option but to park the vehicles on the main roads.
