Billions of rupees irregularities unearthed in allotment of CDA plots

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: Irregularities and fraud worth billions of rupees have been unearthed in fiscal year 2012-13 of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in allotting plots, parking lots and illegal possession of land.



According to the report officers and employees of the CDA have committed offence of irregularity while violating rules and regulations of CDA by allotting plots in developed sectors instead of under-developed sectors in Islamabad. Under the Land Disposal Regulations 2005 the plots of developed sectors would be sold through open auction but over 800 plots were created in Sector I/8, while 3187 plots had been created in other developed sectors including sectors G/10, G/11, I/10, I/11, D/12, E/11. Under the Land Disposal policy there is five percent quota of CDA employees in plots, but these employees, including officers who were appointed on deputation, were allotted extra plots than their fixed quota. They include six officers of CDA whose spouses had already been allotted plots.



The price of plots, allotted to the officers and employees of the CDA, is over Rs20.20 billions. Director Municipal Administration inflicted Rs17.28 million to the CDA by issuing licence of installing LED and trivision through pre-qualification instead of open auction in the different sites of the Capital while the DMA did not make recovery of Rs21.81 million from different licence holders.



It was revealed in the report that CDA land worth Rs22.36 billion has been illegally occupied by the people. Only two five star hotels are illegally using land worth over Rs1.5 billion and order had already been given to probe this encroachment. A big hospital has illegally occupied 24067sq yard in Sector H/8.



The DMA of CDA also issued licence to Capital View Point to build 16x35 size restaurant at Pir Sohawa. A structure was built on 1960.66sq yards, which is a violation of Municipal by-laws. The CDA had to face loss of Rs77.50 million due to violation of CDA regulations.



The CDA had to face loss of over Rs2.5 billion in sale of six plots by carrying out pre-qualify of firms instead of open auction.



The director special projects did not recover Rs170.44 million from firms, which build toll plazas. The CDA had sold eight commercial plots less than the old auction rate that inflicted heavy financial loss to the institution, as the price of the plots are Rs235.82 millions.



It was also revealed that 6400 plots were allotted to illegal occupants on the acquired land of the CDA. The CDA had made Rs354.29 million double payment to illegal occupants of the acquired land.



The CDA had acquired 2909-acre land in Kurry and Rihara and paid over Rs1.12 billion in 1968-69 to the affectees. National Press Foundation occupied 352 kanal of land illegally but the Planning Wing of the CDA had issued NOC for the housing scheme, while the market value of the land is Rs7.4 billion.



The Director Mechanical Division Wing (E&M) gave contract of Rs19.94 million in phase-II of Supreme Court building without open tender. Deputy Director Works issued Rs200 millions mobilization advance to the contractor of Parliament Lodges Phase-II without taking guarantee from scheduled bank. Over Rs4.6 million was spent in the decoration of the residence of former Chairman CDA Engineer Farkhund Iqbal, which was declared illegal.



The director Municipal Administration inflicted Rs9.3 million in awarding contract of parking fees of the vegetable and fruit market (Mandi) of Islamabad. A generator of Rs2.7 million was purchased for the residence of chairman CDA without tender.



The 69 illegal mosques and madaris have been constructed on the land of CDA in Islamabad and its price is over Rs1.13 billion. The CDA did not get the possession of petrol pump, which inflicted Rs45 million loss. The trade of industrial plots was changed but Rs3.2 million fee was not recovered.