ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approached the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe into irregularities in the allotment of plots in its I-14 sector.

During the redesigning of the under-construction sector over the last 10 years, plots allotted to some people disappeared while many plots were allotted for more than once.

As many as 678 people, who had been allotted plots in the sector, have been visiting the CDA offices to locate their plots.

Unable to resolve the matter, the civic agency has now asked NAB to conduct an investigation and fix responsibility for the irregularities.

The decision was taken after the director land and rehabilitation, Nadeem Ahmed Abro, in a letter requested the CDA chairman to refer the case to NAB, saying the delay in resolving the issue was brining a bad name to the civic agency.

“The layout plan of Sector I-14 was changed due to which a considerable number of plots were deleted and re-sized,” the letter stated. “Because of the earmarking of plots by different CDA directorates, including the planning and land departments, there were also reports of double allotments till December 2012.”

The sector was originally established as an industrial sector in 1968.

Later, some portions of the sector were declared as a residential area to settle the villagers of I-11, I-12 and D-12, whose land had been acquired by the CDA Talking to Dawn, a senior official of the planning wing said there were serious mismanagements and corruption in the I-14 sector.

As the layout plan changed several times, many plots were deleted as the land was converted into roads and streets whereas due to corrupt practices in the civic body, each of the 300 out of the total 678 missing plots was allotted to two people.

“The main issue is that there has to be a complete scrutiny of the affairs because some plots could be created in I-14 while the remaining allotees have to be adjusted in the I-12,” said an official of the estate wing.

The sector is located adjacent to the Kohinoor Mill area and due to uneven terrain and natural streams a large number of plots drawn on the maps could not be established on the ground.

The blame game between the land directorate and the planning wing continues with each of them accusing the other of not doing enough to help create new plots so that the affected persons could be adjusted.

“They are not ready to take responsibility for finalising the list, possibly to accommodate their favourite property dealers,” said another official of the planning wing.

The officials of the land directorate, however, said creating plots was the responsibility of the planning wing.

When contacted, CDA spokesman Asim Khichi expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved soon.

He said more plots were being created in the sector using satellite imagery and determining the topography of the land.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014