ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday began an operation to take possession of its land in E-12, where people have been allotted plots but have waited 30 years to receive possession of them.

Backed by police and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, CDA teams carried out an operation that only targeted vacant land and did not demolish any building.

According to Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, 80 kanals of land in E-12 has been retrieved for sector development. Another 1,000 kanals will be taken over in the next few days.

DC says 80 kanals were retrieved during first day of operation, which targeted vacant land

The CDA sold plots to 4,099 buyers in 1989 but has failed to deliver them to buyers because they could not move local landowners from the area to begin development work after clearing their pending dues and compensation.

Sources said the chairman, Amer Ali Ahmed, admonished the enforcement and land directorates for failing to take over CDA land in this sector and decided to launch an operation a few days ago.

CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said that on the first day, the CDA only targeted vacant land. He added: “Our operation will continue and we will take possession of our land to start developing the sector.”

The CDA made a half-hearted attempt to begin an operation in E-12 a few months ago but turned back after resistance from local residents.

This time, the teams began by taking over vacant areas. But many CDA officials believe that until development work begins getting possession of the land will not be of any use as the locals will take over the abandoned land again after some time.

“Getting possession of the land is not an issue. Out of a total of around 5,500 kanals we can take possession of a significant chuck of land without facing any resistance, but development work needs to be started to avoid encroachment in the future,” an engineering wing official said.

He added that there are around a thousand houses in this area, and the CDA could face resistance when it moves to demolish them. E-12 was first announced in the 1970s, and the CDA acquired land for around 5,000 housing units. The sector is spread over 777.3 acres and consists of six mouzas: Dharek Mohri, Bhakar Mohri, Bhakkar Fateh Baksh, Bara Darri, Sari Saral and Golra Sharif.

The authority has not been able to take possession of the land due to claims by locals that their built up property award claims are still pending. They have said they will not vacate the area until the CDA compensates them, which the CDA says it already has.

Meanwhile more than 4,000 people have been allotted plots in this sector; most of the original people who were allotted plots have already died waiting to get possession of their land for the last 30 years.

Sources said the CDA’s current management is committed to resolving this issue as the buyers of these plots have been trying to get their plots from the authority.

“Currently, we are in an ideal position as the chief commissioner also holds charge of the office of CDA chairman, so there is no issue with backup support from the ICT and police. We should go all out to retrieve our land, while all the pending dues and compensation for locals should also be paid immediately,” a CDA official said.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2019