ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is completing the process to lift the ban on the allotments of alternative plots to those whose lands were acquired by the civic authority.

The ban on allotment of alternate plots has been in place for eight months.

“Several issues had led to the ban and we also did not have a director land since December. Recently, we got a new director land and I think we will open the allotment process in two weeks,” said Member Estate Khushal Khan.

He said that other than giving alternate plots, CDA will also have to accommodate residents of I-17, where a media city will be established by the army-run National University of Medical Sciences.

Pending inquiry into plot allotment

Following the action of the mayor and the then acting CDA chairman, Sheikh Anser Aziz for suspending the then director land Irfan Ullah and deputy director Rana Farhan, in December last year, Minister Capital Administration and Development Authority (CADD) Dr Tariq

Fazal Chaudhry had ordered an inquiry into the dubious corrigendum-based allotments of over a hundred plots in the CDA during the last year.

As per directive of the CADD minister, the inquiry was supposed to be completed by Jan 7, 2018, but has not been completed yet. The inquiry officer is also looking into plot allotments made in violation of the rules after a ban on allotments was lifted.

A directive from the CADD minister from Dec 28, 2017, quoted him as saying: “Earlier, on receipt of complaints from public, I imposed ban on allotments of plots on 16-05-2016. After prolonged demands & protest of affectees against this ban, the same was lifted on 12-05-2017. However, I personally observed that affectees have not been benefited at all, therefore, an inquiry needs to be carried out.”

Last August, the Land Directorate allotted plots to various people in the high valued I-11 sector and lower valued I-12 sector in balloting without following any proper policy.

Six plots in F-11/4 were also transferred to F-11/1 and F-11/2. The price of a plot in F-11/4 is around Rs7 million, whereas a similar sized plot in F-11/1 or 2 is worth Rs15million .In addition, over a hundred plots were allotted through corrigendum – a method through which plots are shifted from one site to another due to issues with the physical possession of the land or with the allotment letters.

Sources said that the inquiry committee is supposed to check whether the said steps had been taken for vested interest or the officials of Land Directorate took the decision as per rules and regulations. CADD’s spokesman Atiqur Rehman while speaking to Dawn confirmed that inquiry is still pending. He said the inquiry will be finalized soon.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2018