ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to launch a mega anti-encroachment operation in the under-developed and stalled E-12 sector with the purpose to re-initiate development work in the sector that had been launched by the civic agency some 35 years ago.

This decision was made by senior officials of the capital’s civic agency in a meeting presided over by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, said an official handout issued on Wednesday.

The CDA had launched the E-12 sector in 1989 and sold out over 4,000 plots the same year. However, the plot buyers have been waiting to get their plots developed by the CDA even after 35 years.

According to a CDA official, a number of those people allotted the plots in the sector have already died.

“Someone, who had purchased the plot in this sector some 35 years ago and at a mature age, must be now around or over 70-years. So this is great injustice with people as they have been waiting to get plots for the last over three decades,” admitted the CDA official.

The official, however, said that main reasons behind the delay in development work were unsettled issue between the CDA and local landlords over the compensation of acquired land. Few years back, the CDA had started partial development work, but that too could not be completed because of some issues with contractors and local landlords.

The CDA chairman has now directed the concerned wing to immediately resolve the issue of genuine landlords and take action against those who had encroached upon the CDA land in this sector. He has also directed the concerned authorities to start development work without any further delay.

The CDA chairman during the meeting emphasised the immediate commencement of developmental work in E-12 sector. He issued the directives that the operation be coordinated closely with the Islamabad Police and the administration. The press release quoting the CDA chairman as saying that he would personally visit sector E-12 to oversee the resolution of issues and expedite the development process.

Additionally, the CDA chief stressed the need for similar actions in other sectors, including I-15 and I-12, where encroachments should be removed to facilitate timely completion of developmental work.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2024