ISLAMABAD, May 29: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) asked the government to give relaxation in the regulations, empowering the board to dispose of its land through balloting and direct sale.

The CDA board meeting which was presided over by the chairman Mir Laiq Shah discussed that the authority should be empowered to dispose of its land through direct sale for prompt income generation.

According to Land Disposal Regulations 1993, the state land can only be sold through open auction and not through direct sale. The meeting decided to constitute a committee to make necessary amendments in the rules for direct sale of plots.

A CDA official, when contacted said under the existing Land Disposal Regulations 1993, the authority was bound to dispose of entire plots even at an under-developed area through balloting.

A source told Dawn that earlier the prime minister and the CDA chairman had discretionary powers to allot plots on quota basis and direct sale.

Former caretaker prime minister Moin Qureshi changed the policy and enacted laws under which plots are allotted through open auction all over the country.

The CDA conducts auction of plots every year to generate income to meet its expenses. The authority generated a sum of Rs1.35 billion through this activity last month. Last year, the CDA reportedly earned Rs seven billion from auction of plots.

The CDA board constituted a committee to take possession of its acquired land at Surain Village at sector I-11 so that it could be handed over to the timber dealers.

The land was acquired from the villagers after paying compensation and was allotted to timber dealers. However, the villagers refused to move out and therefore the land was never handed over to the dealers.

The meeting directed the officials concerned to hold a meeting with the British Council high ups to decide the issue of land for a library at any suitable place.

The board decided to generate income by allowing private companies to install their banners and other advertisement material at the under-construction food street at Melody Market. The CDA will invite firms for sponsorship in this regard.

The development of High Tech Town, a proposed industrial area at I-14 for hi-tech industry was also discussed in the meeting.

The director general environment Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said the CDA should ensure that the new industrial area would not pollute the capital’s environment.

The board decided that the CDA would pledge some 30 per cent land of all housing societies to be launched in Islamabad. The land will be returned to them once it meets all the requirements of a housing society.

The meeting approved establishment of a kiosk at hiking track-III on Margalla Hills to facilitate the visitors.