Unproductive farms: Report to be presented today

Almost half of the farms in some schemes completely undeveloped.

ISLAMABAD:

Today, the Supreme Court will receive a compliance report compiled by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the agro-farming schemes in Islamabad.

The apex court will resume its hearing into a suo motu case regarding non-conforming use of agricultural farms today. Out of the total 504 agro farms, 498 were surveyed by a team comprising CDA Estate Management and Building Control officials.

The survey was carried out to ascertain the level of development of agro-farms with regard to the terms and conditions of the allotment of agro plots, but did not cover the number of building violations on the farms.

Of the 498 farms surveyed, some 305 — or 62 per cent — are completely developed, 111 are partially developed, while 82 — or 16 per cent — are undeveloped.



At 43 per cent, the ratio of completely undeveloped farms is relatively higher in Orchard Scheme, H-9 and Poultry and Vegetable Scheme-I Tarlai than other schemes around the capital. The lowest share of undeveloped farms is in P&V Scheme-II along Park Road, Chak Shahzad, where nine of the total 124 farms (seven per cent) are completely undeveloped.

During today’s hearing, the authority will be informing the court that notices for payment of fine of Rs30,000 per acre have been issued to owners who failed to develop their plots within the specified timeframe. Such owners have also been served on final show cause notices prior to cancellation of their allotment.

“The owners of 82 completely undeveloped plots have been given seven days time to explain themselves over the situation, failing which the allotments in their names shall be cancelled,” CDA Planning Member Mustafain Kazmi said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2013.