ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: The Civil Aviation Authority (CDA) has lost a Rs4 billion plot to alleged encroachers in the G-9 Mauve Area of the city.

The plot was meant for the establishment of an aviation tower, it has been learnt.

An official of the CAA, on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the 1,500 square- yards plot was given under the possession of the CAA by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 2006.

The aviation tower plot is owned by the CAA but during all these years the authority has failed to erect a fence around it, giving an opportunity to the land mafia to encroach upon it, said the official.

He added that the CAA had placed a small signboard on the plot which failed even to give any indication about its owner.

An official in the CDA estate wing maintained that the plot was mainly taken over by the developer of the EOBI tower located adjacent to it.

He said the CAA had not taken physical possession of the land for the last six years. “We are not supposed to guard private property. The civic agency has the mandate of guarding its own property besides maintaining transparency in transfer and allotment related matters,” said the official.

“However, we are yet to receive any complaint from the CAA regarding encroachment on the G-9 plot,” he added.

When contacted, a senior official of the CAA requesting anonymity told Dawn: “We have already filed a lawsuit with the local court.”

The official said the CAA had made the SSP and SHO Margalla as the respondents in the matter. He was of the view that the Islamabad police had failed to act on an application filed by the CAA for vacation of the land from the alleged encroacher.

According to legal documents, the CAA consul pleaded before the sessions court that they were in need of police assistance for vacation of the plot.

The petitioner also maintained that the police had not cooperated with the CAA and failed to discharge their duties.

“The property is estimated to be worth around Rs4 billion,” said the official.

Barrister Mumtaz Ali, the CAA counsel, added: “We have filed a lawsuit with the sessions court under section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).”

This section states that “If the police failed to perform its duty, a court help can be sought for getting direction to the police for forceful or legal vacation of a property,” the lawyer explained.

Despite repeated attempts, the spokesman for the police was not available to comment on the matter.