New LDA wing to monitor private housing societies

[Salman]

LAHORE: In order to closely monitor the affairs of the approved private housing schemes in the city, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahad Khan Cheema on Wednesday set up a separate directorate, called Directorate of Estate Management (Private Housing Schemes), in the authority.

Headed by a director of general cadre, the directorate will function under the administrative control of Chief Metropolitan Planner of the LDA. It will prepare a proper land bank of the LDA properties and their disposal through auction in the private housing schemes.

The new wing will also safeguard the public utility sites, reserved for setting up schools, dispensaries, community centres, graveyards and other places of public use in these schemes besides controlling the unauthorised sale of mortgaged plots by taking action against encroachments/illegal occupation.

Ahad has appropriated posts to the newly established directorate from existing strength of LDA budget. It will be manned by one director estate management (private housing scheme), one deputy director/senior estate officer (EM, general cadre) and three assistant directors/estate officers (general cadre).

Meanwhile, LDA has urged LDA Avenue-I allottees, who had yet not paid one or more installments out of the total 12 payments, to deposit the remaining price of their plots by March 31, 2013. No mark-up or penalty will be charged from them by this date because of the delay in payment at their part. No further extension will be given in this date.