ISLAMABAD: After failing to launch the E-12 and clear the encroached pockets in the D-12 sector, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has now decided to acquire land and develop the C sectors.

Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal has transferred the director human resource, Nadeem Abro, to the estate department as the director land with the task to clear all the hurdles in the development of the C-14 and C-15 sectors.

While Mr Abro refused to talk in details about the task, CDA spokesman Asim Khichi also said he had no idea about the taking over of the possession of the land in the C sectors.

However, sources in the civic body said Mr Abro had been given the task to take possession of the land in the C sectors and make it ready to launch within two to three months.

A senior official in the CDA said the move was not being publicised to ward off the encroachers and land mafia from taking undue advantage.

“There is a serious issue with the CDA. It is difficult to know which employee works for the land mafia, private builders or who is lethargic in making decisions,” the official added.

The C series were launched in 2008 and it was announced that work would start on the development of seven new sectors - D-13, E-13, F-13, C-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16.

Incidentally, the CDA estate department has completed the survey of the C sectors but the officials concerned have failed to obtain the revenue and land records from the Islamabad capital territory administration for the purchase of the land.

The CDA has acquired around 800,000 kanals mainly from by villagers in the Sangjani area between Tarnol and Taxila for the C sectors.

Following the pattern of the DHA and other private estate builders, the CDA introduced the land-sharing formula in these sectors under which the landowners would be given developed plots in the sectors and involve limited cash transactions.

In reply to a question about the delay in launching the sectors, the CDA spokesman said financial crunch had delayed the development of the C series. “The only issue we see is that CDA did not have funds to make payments for the built-up properties and develop the land for plotting,” Mr Khichi said.

Meanwhile, member administration Amer Ahmed Ali said the CDA had been waiting for too long to take possession of land in these sectors and that could result in an E-12-like situation.

“There is negligible encroachment and limited built-up property in most of the C series. It should be taken up now before it is too late,” he added.

The E-12 sector was launched in the late 1980s but due to the negligence and corruption in the CDA its name existed only on papers and there are more claimants about the built-up property than the actual cost of the land.

The CDA not only pays for the land but also for the infrastructure built over the land. As the news of land acquisition spreads, the locals start establishing buildings to claim more compensation. Some even sell their land to professional claimants who have contacts in the CDA.

While the CDA chairman seems enthusiastic to launch the C series, the task is not that easy in view of deep-rooted connection between the officials of the authority and the local land mafia.