CDA launches probe into 13 mega projects

Tells Supreme Court that two shopping malls, two restaurants possibly violated the master plan

ISLAMABAD: The top civic authority of the federal capital on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it had launched investigations against 13 projects in the city, including two shopping malls, for allegedly violating the master plan.

In a report submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), it was disclosed that investigations into the allotment of land for restaurants in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) were also underway.

The authority further said that it was probing the establishment of the Safa Gold Mall on land which had originally been allocated for setting up a dispensary.

The document stated that the CDA has also started investigations to unearth the facts surrounding the lease granted for the construction of another major mall in the centre of the federal capital. The report stated that investigations into the allotment of plots for a school and cinema in Sector G-9 to favourites is also underway.

CDA also said that it is probing the matter regarding the illegal allotment of land for Gun Club, Saidpur Village and Lake View Park. Moreover, dubious contracts for the diplomatic shuttle service and additional shops in covered markets are also under investigation.

The report stated that the civic body is planning to launch a bus service in the federal capital. If the government provides the necessary funds, the project can start within a year.

Under the plan, 106 modern, air-conditioned buses will operate on six routes in the federal capital. Separate lanes will be allocated for these buses to ply in.

The report stated that CDA has demolished as many as 1,293 buildings in 139 operations against encroachments in the city. Foreign embassies set up in the city have also been asked to remove their security barriers through the Foreign Ministry. If the embassies do not remove the encroachments, action will be taken against them as per the law, it added.

The report claimed that CDA is providing funds to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) instead of the government.

In this regard, the report said that CDA has so far lent as much as Rs19 billion to the corporation as a loan as per a decision of the federal cabinet. However, the lending has caused financial difficulties for the CDA, it added.

Four suspended

Separately, the CDA on Thursday said that it has suspended four of its officers for corruption and inefficiency. These officers were suspended as per CDA Employees Service Regulation – 1992, while the matter has also been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for detailed investigations.

A statement from the civic authority on Thursday said that these officials had been found moving files of plots from the record room without making proper entries and informing the relevant official.

The suspended officials include One Window Directorate (OWD) Assistant Director Sohail Jameel Chohan, Junior Assistant Muhammad Waqas, Human Resource Officer – V Aftab Ahmed Jafrani, and Land and Rehabilitation Directorate Junior Assistant Sameer Bashir.

The officials were accused of illegally transferring plots numbered 833, 838 and 538 in Sector I-12/4.

The Land Directorate had been asked to provide files of these plots, but it transpired that the files were not present in the record room of the directorate.

On perusal of records of OWD, it was revealed that these files were received in the admitting section, however, the Land Directorate did not have any record of sending these files to OWD.

The absence of receipt of files showed that officials at OWD and Land Directorate were apparently involved in illegal transactions.

In this connection, a preliminary inquiry was conducted wherein it was reported that the four officials were involved.

CDA subsequently requested the FIA to carry out a detailed investigation in this regard so that stern action against the culprits can be taken.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2020.