Agro-farms Supreme Court seeks detailed report from CDA within 30 days

Commission to examine facts, in case of false information legal action will be taken against officials of civic body.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit a complete report on agro-farms within a month.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case of the commercial use of agro-farms and illegal construction in violation of the rules and regulations.

The court said that after CDA’s report, a commission would be formed to examine the facts and in case of false information legal action will be taken against the officials of the civic body.

According to reports, CDA allotted agro-farms to influential people like generals, judges and journalists. Ramzan Chaudhry, representing CDA, told the court that CDA Deputy Commissioner imposed heavy fines on agro-farms’ owners who were violating the rules.

“[Contracts for] all agro-farms violating CDA’s bylaws have been ceased,” he added. However he did not reveal how many of the 525 plots had been ceased.

CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi earlier had told the court that 80 percent of the agriculture farms in Islamabad Capital Territory were being misused and were violating CDA’s terms and rules. Instead of growing fruits and vegetables, marriage halls and villas were being constructed on the farmland, he had said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2011.