LDA issues procedure for transfer of exemption-related properties

[Salman]

LDA issues procedure for transfer of exemption-related properties




LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has formally issued detailed terms of reference (ToR) for the transfer of the entire exemption-related plots/properties, falling within the territorial jurisdiction of Johar Town.

Under the ToR, issued for the recently established Record Sifting Cell (RSC), the officials will be bound to clear eight reports before transferring the properties in the name of applicants, it is learnt.

Officials say the RSC, which will be supervised by the director Land Development (1) and comprised deputy director (DLD-1), AD (DLD-1), assistant director (Town Planning), AD (Revenue), Estate Officer (Johar Town), AD (Information Technology), AD (Award/Ownership, Directorate of Land Acquisition), naib tehsildar/Qannongo and patwari, will exclusively deal with transfer of exemption-related plots/properties (the plots, which were earlier allotted to landowners for surrendering of their plots to LDA and then transferred time to time to those who purchased these).

They say the support staff, such as supervisors and inspectors, will also assist the RSC for keeping the property record, its safe handing and taking over along with the requisite reports.

“Various teams comprising AD (TP), Estate Officer, Surveyor and two supervisors (each) will be given motorcycles to inspect as many as 100 plots’ sites before proceeding further,” reads a document circulated to the directorates concerned at the LDA’s Johar Town Complex.

The RSC, before transfer of such properties, will ensure to get eight reports, including award/ownership report as per the award list (exemption cases), possession proceedings report (original holding and handing over of the plot’s physical possession), double/excess exemption report, accounts verification report (all deposit reports, name/Khasra/plot-wise search), town planning report regarding building plan/completion certificate and site report, estate officer report on possession register/site report, allocation/balloting/scanning report and issuance of clearance certificate.

“A separate room will be earmarked for the RSC that will be equipped with new double locks, computers, printer and necessary stationary. It will also have three security guards round-the-clock.

The original documents such as award, possession, proceeding record, double exemption record, etc will be kept in the double lock cabinet system and it will also be ensured that no unauthorised movement of record could take place,” reads the document.

The RSC will be liable to submit a daily report on a prescribed proforma/format having brief summary on property file numbers, receiving time, reporting wing, return time after requisite reports, files cleared and files having observations.

The document says that once a property file is reported to be cleared by all the aspects, a clearance certificate will be issued and placed/tagged in it. Each certificate will have separate identity number that will be printed at the security feature paper, it says.

Talking to Dawn, LDA Director (Land Development-1) Imran Abbasi said the new system would minimise the complaints related to the delay in transfer of properties.

“Since we have already worked a lot to streamline the exemption cases, we hope that we will make the entire Johar Town record transparent in next few months. Once we accomplish this task, we will upload record of all cleared files (whether exemption or allotment cases) on our website,” Abbasi claimed.