Plots’ balloting: CDA buckles under pressure from senators

Had announced to auction plots at Park Enclave through NADRA, but shunned the idea.

ISLAMABAD: It seems that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) buckled under pressure from members of a senate penal as it has decided to hold auction of plots at a housing scheme itself without involving a third party.

The city managers had earlier announced to engage the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to hold balloting of 166 plots at the Park Enclave – a housing project --- to ensure fairness in the process.

It was decided that the Nadra would be asked on the CDA’s behalf to hold the balloting by using its state-of-the-art software.

The CDA has received over 1,500 applications from across Pakistan and abroad and the balloting will be held on Monday at the Jinnah Convention Centre.

Suddenly, the city managers shunned the idea after they received a written direction from the head of the Senate Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Senator Kalsoom Perveen.

In the letter, Senator Perveen has directed the CDA chairman that the civic agency itself holds balloting instead of involving a third party.

The CDA failed to hold fair balloting of plots in the past. In 2011, some 624 plots were auctioned by the CDA, but several MPs and influential were declared winners of corner or most priced plots at a housing scheme.

Similarly, some plots were given to affected residents of Sector I-14 two months ago, but allegations of corruption marred the process which led to cancelation of the whole process.

The CDA Director Estate Management-II Mohammad Ali said that the decision was taken following a written direction by the senate panel.

Ali said that the CDA’s own devised software would be used for the purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2015.