Govt vying for out-of-court settlement for G-15/4

ISLAMABAD:

The construction of a settled sector in the federal capital has hit a snag over recovering land for the project, the government disclosed on Monday, adding that they are currently embroiled in negotiations with litigants for an out-of-court settlement for acquiring land in Sector G-15/4.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali told the National Assembly on Monday that talks for recovering land earmarked for Sector G-15/4 from plot holders in the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society in Zone-II of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) are underway.

Responding to a query during the question hour, he explained that delays in completing the project relate to the acquisition of land.

He added that the landowners had put forward excessive demands for their land. “They [landholders] are demanding Rs5 million per Kanal,” he said, adding that this was a significant jump from prices previously agreed upon.

He said efforts were being made to settle the issue amicably and hoped that it will be resolved soon.

The parliamentary secretary further said that the process of purchasing of land in Zone-II of the capital for the construction of Sector G-15/4 had been initiated in the mid-nineties. He added that the rates for purchasing land in different areas of the sub-sector varied between Rs63,000 to Rs1.25 million per Kanal during this time.

Ali further clarified that no land has been procured during the tenure of the incumbent management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

“In Sector G-15/4, some 572 plots are in possession area and have been handed over to members,” he said, adding that the remaining 128 plots have been marked in an area which is not yet in the possession of the civic authority.

Ali said a case is currently pending before a civil judge since April 19, 2002. The incumbent management of the CDA, he said, had taken the charge of the society’s office on September 2, 2019, and had resolved to sort out the issue on priority.

“Negotiations are also underway for an out-of-court settlement with the litigants as well,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2020.