More money, more convenience: Growing houses on farm land
Land meant for agriculture being transformed into housing societies.
ISLAMABAD:
Commercialism, rapid increase in population and greed is fast changing the landscape of the federal capital. Concrete structures and buildings are replacing lush green areas of the capital’s suburbs -- thanks to the mushrooming of housing societies and palatial houses constructed by the affluent people.
Farm land meant for growing agricultural produce in the rural area is rapidly being converted into housing societies.
More than 0.1 million acres of land set aside for the purpose of farming has not been cultivated since establishment of the capital. Allocations for cultivating the land were made in the budget every year, but Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) did not show interest in the matter, said an official. Instead, the land was handed over to “influential people” for setting up of private housing societies.
Sources in the Islamabad administration told The Express Tribune that illegal use of the agricultural land has increased in the suburbs of the city. Lack of attention by the authorities to facilitate the farmers and cashing on the prospects of earning a high value against the sale of this area, has left the fertile land wasted for many years.
The basic concept of this land was providing agri-products to the rural and urban citizens of the city, but sadly it could not be materialised, said an official.
The city has been divided into two zones- urban and rural. It has 12 union councils and a population of over 0.8 million. But, no steps have or being taken to promote the farmers residing near the capital, the official added.
He further told that only two dams were established in the two union councils of Kirpa and Tarlai in 1980 with the help from the Japanese. After that the administration has not shown any interest on the water issue.
Local farmers expressed serious concerns saying that the population of the city is rapidly increasing and the administration is busy helping private housing societies and filling their own pockets.
Ameer Muhammad, a local farmer said that if the administration provided him with an incentive, cultivating land could turn profitable for the farmers. He said that it is unfortunate that the area specified only for agricultural purposes was being used for everything but that.
Supreme Court also took a serious note of the illegal use of agriculture farms in the recent past and sought a complete record from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the issue.
Director Agriculture, Agha Muhammad Ali Qazalbash (ICT) told The Express Tribune that administration is serious in order to promote agriculture by giving different incentives to the farmers.
He claimed that 45 new small-sized dams were established in 12 union councils and the basic aim of this was to irrigate the arable land. However, he admitted that the lack of funds was also one of the reasons for turning a blind eye towards the capitals agrarian infra-structure.
He said that around 200 farmers were trained in this regard, “ICT would make the dams free of cost, and if any farmer has at least 20 canals of land he shall be supported.” He added that a special committee had been established in this regard and ICT was receiving good feedback from farmers for its work.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2011.
Commercialism, rapid increase in population and greed is fast changing the landscape of the federal capital. Concrete structures and buildings are replacing lush green areas of the capital’s suburbs -- thanks to the mushrooming of housing societies and palatial houses constructed by the affluent people.
Farm land meant for growing agricultural produce in the rural area is rapidly being converted into housing societies.
More than 0.1 million acres of land set aside for the purpose of farming has not been cultivated since establishment of the capital. Allocations for cultivating the land were made in the budget every year, but Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) did not show interest in the matter, said an official. Instead, the land was handed over to “influential people” for setting up of private housing societies.
Sources in the Islamabad administration told The Express Tribune that illegal use of the agricultural land has increased in the suburbs of the city. Lack of attention by the authorities to facilitate the farmers and cashing on the prospects of earning a high value against the sale of this area, has left the fertile land wasted for many years.
The basic concept of this land was providing agri-products to the rural and urban citizens of the city, but sadly it could not be materialised, said an official.
The city has been divided into two zones- urban and rural. It has 12 union councils and a population of over 0.8 million. But, no steps have or being taken to promote the farmers residing near the capital, the official added.
He further told that only two dams were established in the two union councils of Kirpa and Tarlai in 1980 with the help from the Japanese. After that the administration has not shown any interest on the water issue.
Local farmers expressed serious concerns saying that the population of the city is rapidly increasing and the administration is busy helping private housing societies and filling their own pockets.
Ameer Muhammad, a local farmer said that if the administration provided him with an incentive, cultivating land could turn profitable for the farmers. He said that it is unfortunate that the area specified only for agricultural purposes was being used for everything but that.
Supreme Court also took a serious note of the illegal use of agriculture farms in the recent past and sought a complete record from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the issue.
Director Agriculture, Agha Muhammad Ali Qazalbash (ICT) told The Express Tribune that administration is serious in order to promote agriculture by giving different incentives to the farmers.
He claimed that 45 new small-sized dams were established in 12 union councils and the basic aim of this was to irrigate the arable land. However, he admitted that the lack of funds was also one of the reasons for turning a blind eye towards the capitals agrarian infra-structure.
He said that around 200 farmers were trained in this regard, “ICT would make the dams free of cost, and if any farmer has at least 20 canals of land he shall be supported.” He added that a special committee had been established in this regard and ICT was receiving good feedback from farmers for its work.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2011.