ISLAMABAD: Senior managers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday admitted to a Senate committee their helplessness to check violation of land use rules at the agro farms and orchards in the city.

“They (the violators) have obtained stay order from the Supreme Court (against any action), but we are pursuing the case,” Wasim Ahmed, Member Planning of the CDA, informed the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat to the surprise of its members.

Several committee members wondered how that could be.

“Well, the apex court had taken suo motu notice of, and expressed displeasure over, the mismanagement at agro farms,” said Sen. Mir Muhammad Yousuf Badini. “How come they granted stay order to the violators? There must be something that you are hiding.”

And committee chairperson, Senator Kulsum Parveen, noted that “These farms were established to provide food security for the capital. But now they are either high-end private clubs or lawns to hold parties.”

There are 527 agro farms of 20 kanals each, leased out to people decades ago, 72 of whom have built extra structures or covered more area in violation of the lease rules, according to the CDA.

As the discussion proceeded, the CDA officials informed the Senate committee that the lessees were permitted to cover 4,850 square feet by structures. In 2004 that limit was increased up to 12,500 square feet. But the Supreme Court reverted it to the old limit.

That made Sen Mushahidullah quip: “So this is the case. First you allowed people to make villas there and now you declare them violators.”

As the committee members came hard on the CDA, its chairman, Maroof Afzal, said efforts would be made that agro farms are not used for commercial activities.

The law does not allow change in land use of agro farms, including building swimming pools, landscaping and setting water features.

Committee chairperson, Ms Parveen, suggested that CDA conduct a survey of the land use in each agro farm – even count the number of trees there - and make a record of it.

“This is your flaw and we want a positive development in the next meeting in this regard,” she said. “At least take pictures. It will prove that there is no farming, poultry or dairy there.”

A reply from the CDA to why inquiries into alleged financial embezzlements in the CDA were lingering on, further infuriated the committee members as it did not contain relevant information.

“Some of them are pending since 2003 and, strangely, the accused officers had been getting promotions all this time,” noted Sen Sughra Imam.

Chairperson Ms Parveen directed CDA to complete maximum number of inquiries within one month and provide detailed report to the committee.

“Otherwise we will take possible legal action against you for not executing the inquiries,” she told the chairman and members of CDA.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014