ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has formed a committee to come up with a final relocation plan for slum dwellers of the city.

Prime Minister Imran Khan a couple of months ago directed the CDA chairman to prepare the plan for “the regeneration and transformation of katchi abadis and construction of high-rise buildings there.”

An official of the CDA said initial homework had been completed to shift the slums of F-6 and F-7. He said the slum dwellers would be adjusted either in G-7 or G-8 where the CDA would construct flats for them.

The land that will be cleared from the slum at F-7 is currently estimated to be worth Rs20 billion. The rough cost of the adjustment and relocation could be around Rs2 billion, said the official. The cost of the flats could be recovered from those who would be shifted there on a soft installment basis.

Initially, flats will be constructed for dwellers of F-6, F-7 katchi abadis either in G-7 or G-8, CDA official says

“We have already completed the initial work and today formed a committee to finalise the proposals in two weeks. We will provide best living facilities to the poor segment of society,” said CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed. He said in the first phase, after constructing a high-rise and medium size flats, the slum dwellers of F-6 and F-7 would be shifted there.

The committee, which will finalise the proposals, comprises the directors of urban planning, regional planning, housing societies and the architecture wing. The member planning and design will head the committee.

CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said considerable groundwork had already been done and proposals were being finalised.

“Since the retrieved area will be used for commercial purposes, the matter will be approved by the federal cabinet. The first proposal is likely to be completed within two weeks,” he said.

There are 10 recognised slums where people are living in deplorable conditions. There is no regulation and availability of services in these slums mainly located in F-6, F-7, G-7, G-8.

“The PM office had issued a directive to CDA to come up with a proposal to this effect. Once the available plans are finalised, a summary for the CDA board will be prepared within the coming week and subsequently the matter will be sent to the cabinet for formal approval,” said the CDA a statement.

It said satellite image of all katchi abadis had already been secured through Suparco “so that boundaries are identities and scope of work is determined. The image is dated 25-3-2019. While formulating the proposals satellite imagery will be utilised as a baseline for this social housing,” the statement said.

Sources in the civic agency said the prime minister at a meeting held on Feb 12 had directed the CDA to prepare the plan as soon as possible.

Following the meeting, Additional Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz from the Prime Minister Office also wrote to the CDA head to submit the plan.

Out of the over 50 irregular settlements in the capital, the civic agency has given legal and regularised status to 10 whose dewellers will be considered for shifting in phases with the start of accommodating the dwellers of France Colony of F-7 and 100 Quarters of F-6.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2019