Sense and sensitivity: CDA excludes encroached plot from auction

The plot in Sector I-9 is allegedly in the possession of a ‘sensitive’ agency.

ISLAMABAD:

The city managers have set an ambitious revenue generation target of over Rs25 billion from the upcoming auction of commercial plots in the capital.

But, to achieve that target, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman is unwilling to take any unnecessary risks that invite trouble for himself or the authority.

On CDA Chairman Nadeem Hasan Asif’s direction, the auction committee omitted a lucrative plot in Sector I-9 from the list of plots which will be presented to investors during the three-day land auction beginning November 18.

A prime industrial plot measuring 2,300 square yards in Sector I/9-2 was scheduled to be auctioned and also appeared in a list of plots finalised by the CDA’s estate wing.



During a recent meeting to finalise auction arrangements, the chairman was informed that even though the plot belonged to the CDA, it had been encroached upon by the country’s premier intelligence agency some time ago. He was further informed that the ‘encroachers’ have already constructed an illegal boundary wall and a gate has also been installed in the street leading to the plot.

The officials who were briefing the chairman over the plot’s status also informed him that the encroached premises were not accessible, even for CDA officials.

An official who was part of that meeting said, “We were expecting the chairman would spring into action and direct the enforcement directorate to remove encroachments and prepare the plot for auction.”

“The chairman remained silent for a while and later directed the removal of the plot from the auction list,” the official said, adding that had it been a roadside vendor or katchi abadi, they would have seen a different reaction from their boss.

The value of the plot is stated to in several hundred million rupees. “Some time ago, CDA water management wing officials tried to check the occupied premises but were barred from doing so,” said a CDA official requesting anonymity.

Around 10 days ago, CDA staff headed by a director from the estate management wing visited the plot and took some pictures of the boundary wall.

“We were intercepted by the security personal deputed there. Pictures of the plots were deleted from our camera, and they only released us after thorough investigation,” said one of the team members that visited the plot.

The CDA chairman could not be reached for his comments despite several attempts.

A news statement issued by authority’s public relations office stated that 56 fully-developed commercial plots in sectors F-7, F-8, G-8, G-10, G-11, G-9, F-11, G-11, I-11, Blue Area and E-11’s Northern Strip would be up for auction.

CDA Spokesperson Asim Khichi said in order to make the upcoming auction a success, the chairman visited the plots and said, “All the plots are clear of all sorts of litigations, encroachments and possession issues and basic amenities like water, electricity, connecting roads are in place at all 56 plots.”

For the first time, the CDA has arranged a video conferencing facility for investors wishing to participate in the bidding from Lahore and Karachi.

The plots are meant for construction of shopping malls, luxury apartments, wedding halls, hotels, office complexes, petrol pump, and other various mixed-use commercial plots.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2013.