'CDA retrieves 17,000 kanals of encroached land'

Imtiaz Inayat Elahi Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) said that the civic body has acquired 17,000 kanals of encroached land from different sectors in the City. He said this while briefing the standing committee meeting held here on Thursday, adding that due to less construction in the Sectors G-12 and F-12 the encroachments have became easy for the people.
He said that the whole Sector G-12 has not become a government's property yet, adding that if the government stands by CDA, the authority will retrieve encroached land within one month. "We are ready to have a joint venture with residents of G-12," he added. On the issue of implementing the committee decision, Chairman CDA said, "We cannot operate without the help of the parliament, because CDA is a civic body that is why we have to take action with the help of ICT.
He said that the MNAs and Land mafia of sector G-12 have influenced and pressurised the authority not to take any action against them, urging the government and committee to empower the civic body to take action against encroachers sans fear and favour. The Chairman said that government should have the political will to solve the encroachment problems, as the CDA is submitting regularly fortnight report pertaining to the land encroachment, adding that it would be a difficult task to point out all the encroachments in the city as 3 lakh people are coming everyday in Islamabad for work and other purposes.
In order to remove all encroachments in G-12 sector, Elahi requested the standing committee to form a sub-committee that can give its suggestions to CDA about encroachments. He said, "I admit that there is massive corruption in CDA, as all the institutions of Pakistan have corruption." He said that from almost 2-year CDA has not given a single Khokha without permission.
CDA briefed the standing committee about the encroachments on Kashmir Highway, two under construction buildings in the G-12 and in F-12. A member of standing committee Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that CDA should have the will to take strict action against the people involved in encroachment process, adding that in the process of retrieving 17,000 kanals of land not a signal bullet has been fired because the committee was backing CDA in this regard.
Chaudhary said that the lower staff of CDA has been involved in encroachments, adding that the standing committee will work and give its recommendations according to the law. He said that to improve working of CDA the committee's suggestions will help CDA, adding that standing committee members have no personal interest; however, some MNAs and other influential personalities pressurised CDA for their vested interests.
Chaudhray said that two plazas have been constructed on the acquired land of CDA and he challenged the authority that he would resign if he has been proven wrong. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said that standing committee will leave no stone unturned to ensure transparency in CDA, adding that a sub-committee should be made to deal with the basic problems of civic body. He said that CDA should spread awareness about encroachment through electronic and print media.
On the issue of a demolition of under construction building in G-12 member of committee Malik Nawab Sher Waseer inquired CDA "how people get a chance to build any building without its permission?" He said that CDA should take action against the encroachment before constructing any building, adding that CDA should provide details of people in involved in demolition of under construction plaza in next meeting. The standing committee agreed on the agenda that CDA and government should work together for the betterment of the capital city.