Islamabad:The officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) commit frauds and then escape unpunished leaving victims who are allottees of commercial and residential plots with no choice but to move courts for relief.
In one such case which came to scene recently, a deputy director of the Estate Management Directorate (Commercial) restored an industrial plot measuring over four kanals worth over Rs1 billion without approval of the CDA board and bring the case into notice of the Member concerned.
More interestingly, the deputy director, who also held charge of director, has retired and neither any investigation was conducted nor any disciplinary action was taken. According to response submitted in the Islamabad High Court copy of which available with 'The News', Plot number 61 measuring 2444.4 square yards was allotted for industrial purposes concerned was cancelled on September 02, 1987 and the plot was subsequently restored subject to payment of Rs1,94,821 on September 5, 1991.
The same plot was again cancelled due to non-payment of restoration charges and other dues through applications as well as out of court settlement. However, the Law Directorate of CDA did not give consent for restoration of plot being cancelled second time.
Moreover, the property was also in non-conforming use as well and the lease had also expired on May 02, 2004. As per Islamabad Land disposal Regulation, 2005 and the Restoration Policy, 2014, the authority to restore a cancelled plot vests with CDA Board rather than any Member.
The restoration letter dated June 11, 2019 was issued against the Restoration Policy, 2014. Then the deputy director acted on his own and no approval of the CDA Board was sought. An official of the directorate concerned, when approached, confirmed that the Law Directorate had submitted response with the Islamabad High Court regarding status of the plot.
One such case is enough to shatter trust of CDA among small and big investors. The CDA also lacks any mechanism to provide any relief to victims who purchase plots from the open market, apply for transfer at One Window Operation.
The concerned authorities accept cases for transfer after issuing No Demand Certificate (NDC). But on one bad morning, an allottee comes to know that the plot which was cleared by the CDA already is bogus and fake.
