ISLAMABAD, July 3: Over 200 acres of the Capital Development Authority’s land is stated to be in illegal possession, a source in the authority told Dawn on Wednesday.

The authority requires an amendment in the CDA Ordinance 1960 to have the land vacated, and this task has been assigned to the CDA’s consultant law, the source said.

He would recommend necessary amendments in consultation with the authority’s planning wing and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, he said.

He said the occupants had gone into litigation to protect themselves from any action of the CDA.

Meanwhile, the CDA chairman has asked the directorates concerned to prepare a contingency plan for the removal of encroachment from the city.

He also asked them to keep a check on unauthorized construction activity on either side of Grand Trunk Road within the municipal limits of Islamabad and take appropriate action against those involved in such violation.

He said the services of the ICT administration and the police would also be sought in this regard.

The CDA chairman emphasized the need for devising an effective strategy to deal with the issue.

He also underlined the need for modification/upgradation of rules/regulations and streamlining an effective system of checks.

The source said the shortage of union council’s staff was one of the main reasons for the increase in encroachments in the rural areas of Islamabad.

He said the district administration was also considering to revive the Rural Area Coordination Committee comprising members of the ICT administration and the CDA to check the problem.

Meanwhile, the audit report 2000 detected irregularities of Rs193.128 million in the store directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The report said an official of the store directorate awarded the contract to a private firm for the sale of empty drums. However, the contractor failed to sell the drums as per agreement but the security deposited by the contractor had not been forfeited.

The CDA replied that an action regarding the forfeiture of security was being taken.

In a separate case, the store directorate supplied some material to the other directorates of the authority but the cost of material had not been recovered, which resulted in loss of Rs55.406 million.

However, the CDA replied that the matter had been taken up with the divisions concerned.

In another case, the CDA suffered a loss of Rs5.240 million due to delay in supply of material.

The report said the store directorate purchased airconditioner pipes and fitting material which had not been used. Later on, the material had damaged. The CDA replied that the pipe would be auctioned to meet the loss.

In another case, the store directorate purchased 5295 metric tons of steel without any requirement which caused a loss of Rs132 million to the CDA, the report added.

However, the CDA said the steel was purchased for various uplift projects but it could not be utilized as only a few projects were executed by the CDA due to financial constraints.