Housing pains: CDA plans to develop new sectors in capital

Mayor directs resumption of stalled work in E-12, C-15, Park Enclave

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), is planning to expand development work in the capital by opening new sectors while resuming stalled development work in other sectors.

The decision comes as the civic agency battles to cope with the growing demand for housing in Islamabad coupled with several housing societies, mushrooming in the capital.

CDA officials, held a high-level huddle over the issue on Friday, chaired by Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz. Aziz holds the additional charge of the CDA chairman.

“In order to cater to the growing housing needs of the city, not only development of stalled sectors would be started but new sectors would also be opened,” Mayor Aziz vowed.

In this regard he directed all concerned departments to take consolidated steps to remove all hurdles in the development of sectors E-12, C-15 and Park Enclave.

To achieve this, Aziz said that a forceful operation would be launched in the capital in collaboration with the Islamabad District Administration (ICT) to recover CDA lands which have been illegally possessed.

While discussing the issues obstructing development of sectors C-15, E-12 and Park Enclave in detail, Aziz said that developing these sectors was among his top priorities.

He added that they were trying to improve and make transparent procedures relating to paying compensation and policies on allotting plots against constructed properties.

Talking about corruption in CDA and illegal allotment of lands as recently pointed out in an audit report of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), the mayor said that soon after he assumed responsibilities of CDA chairman, records of land and estate department were sealed to determine irregularities in allotment of lands.

He said that strict action would be taken against officials and officers of the agency who were found to be involved in these irregularities.

Resolving civic issues

Aziz, directed the CDA’s engineering wing to coordinate with elected members of the IMC and resolve outstanding issues of the city amicably so that stalled development work could be reinitiated.

He said it was the responsibility of the elected representatives of the city to ensure development of the city and that they should play their roles in their respective areas to quickly resolve any hurdles.

Mayor Aziz, also directed the officials of enforcement and land directorate to visit these sectors so that issues could be resolved and allottees might be able to build houses on their plots.

The CDA officials, informed the Mayor that development work in Phase- I  of the Park Enclave was almost complete and allotees were being handed possession of their lands.

Once a bridge in the area is constructed, possession of plots will be handed over to the remaining allottees. Furthermore, Aziz was told that the agency has sought funds from the finance wing to set up infrastructure for gas and electricity supply in the area. On this, Aziz granted his approval to release the required funds.

Allotment for Phase-II of Park-Enclave was near completion while demarcation of commercial plots had also been finalised.

The issue of acquiring land in six streets of Park Enclave Phase-I also came under discussion. Aziz said that work on streets 5 through 10 should be abandoned till the body gains possession of lands for them.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2016.