Agro-farm violations: Bulldozers greet another farm, without 21-gun salute

Excess structures torn down less eventfully than Thursday, when farm officials fired guns at CDA staff.


Our Correspondent March 23, 2013
DA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz recently constituted a team under the supervision of the Planning member to carry out a comprehensive drive against violators. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday continued an ongoing drive against agro-farms violating CDA bylaws and demolished the excess covered area of a farm in Poultry and Vegetable Scheme, Sehana Extension.


“The owner of the plot has constructed garages and residential quarters in violation of rules. A CDA team demolished 2,000 square feet which were in excess of covered area restrictions,” said CDA Member Planning and Design Mustafain Kazmi.

A day earlier, the authority also removed structures at agro farm C-6 in P&V Scheme No-II, Chak Shahzad after being met with armed opposition by the lessees. The authority has registered an FIR against the owner of the farmhouse.

In P&V Scheme Sehana Extension, there are some 76 agriculture farms, 69 of which have been allotted while the other nine have not been allotted yet. Under CDA bylaws, construction is allowed on an area of 10,000 square feet, while violations of up to 2,500 square feet can be regularised by paying a fine of Rs500 per square foot.

The owner of poultry farm is liable to produce 4,500 broiler (chicken) per month and 5,000 eggs per day, while vegetable farms would have to bring 80 percent of farm land under intensive vegetable farming.

After taking possession of the farms, owners are required to reach 50 per cent production within 12 months of taking possession, while the entire project has to be brought up to full production within three years.

This is not happening though, as a recent survey of 278 out of 504 allotted agro farms found only 124 met the terms of the allotment agreements, while 106 were partially developed and the other 38 were completely undeveloped.

However, CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz recently constituted a team under the supervision of the Planning member to carry out a comprehensive drive against violators.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2013.

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