The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) formerly the Karachi Building Control Authority, is today responsible for all illegal constructions in the city which are directly under the control of the Sindh Government.
History
In pre-independence days, the Municipal Corporation had the sole responsibility of regulating the building activity in the municipal limits of Karachi. The Bombay Town Planning Act 1915 and Cantonment Board Act 1924 provided a legal basis for exercising building control functions. The Karachi Development Authority was established in 1957 under the Presidential Order No.5.
Responsibility
The main functions of the Authority were to undertake town expansion schemes and to accord approval to building plans in its housing schemes. In 1961, building regulations for various schemes were formulated which were finally enforced.
The functions of Building Control were repeatedly shifted to and from KDA & KMC and SBCA in different periods.
Illegal construction under the support of SBCA
Illegal construction of multistory buildings in Sindh province was rampant particularly in Karachi since the establishment of the SBCA.
The defunct Karachi Building Control Authority had at least some control over the construction of high-rise buildings in the city before as the corrupt SBCA officials were directly and actively involved in the mushroom growth of buildings.
These buildings were constructed in sheer violation of building laws posing danger to the lives and property of people. SBCA officials had made huge wealth and assets by allowing illegal construction of buildings in the city. The provincial government must take notice of this corruption in the SBCA.
SBCA officials responsible for the loss of lives
Several people lost their lives in buildings collapsed incidents in Karachi since the establishment of the SBCA. This department has demolished exploited the city’s flag for corruption and bribery.
The construction of these illegal multi-story buildings is also posing serious threats to the dwellers of smaller houses in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The SBCA officials are allegedly supervising the illegal construction on several projects and removing all hurdles like paying to police parties, district administration etc. Illegal buildings are being constructed without legal approvals and bribery has become a second source of income for SBCA officials.
SBCA officials were solely and directly responsible for the loss of lives and properties of innocent people and they must be brought to book.
Illegal constructions in Karachi
Top areas of Karachi where illegal multi-story buildings are being constructed include Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Jamshed Town, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Lyari and other areas.
Action on illegal contractions
Officials of the SBCA allegedly extorted huge sums of money by intimidating the owners and occupants of such buildings instead of taking action when they receive a petition or complaints against such illegal constructions.
The poor performance of the Sindh government
The poor performance of the Sindh government has frustrated the residents of many urban areas in the province. The Sindh government aimed at facilitating the Mafia and occupants acquiring construction permits had eased out the procedure for the approval and issuance of permits for residential houses.
As part of this ground-breaking reform, the requirement of interdepartmental No Objection Certificates (NOCs) NOCs from Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB), Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Excise & Taxation Department Government of Sindh have been waived off.
This had been done on the directive of Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah. The Sindh government was equally responsible in this regard.
The solution to the issue
It is necessary to bring the corrupt elements of the Sindh Building Control Authority to justice so that the city of light can be restored to its legal and livable condition. If the Supreme Court or federal government wants to remove illegal buildings, it must first remove corruption from the SBCA, only then can any improvement in the situation be expected.
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