CDA bylaws being violated at farmhouses

[LahoreEstate]

Musharraf to cough up Rs399,050

Sunday, June 21, 2009
Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Power scam apart, the Chak Shahzad farmhouse scheme presents almost a complete and glaring violation of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) bylaws, government inquiry reveals.

The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), which has of late conducted inquiry into the power scam engulfing the Chak Shahzad Farmhouses, found out in its probe that the ground realities there have changed altogether and are no more in line with the CDA bylaws.

The inquiry report, a copy of which is provided to The News, shows that the Iesco inquiry team also collected the latest information from the CDA about the bylaws governing Chak Shahzad Farmhouses and thus concluded that the ground realities are entirely different from what the authority’s bylaws say.

“The basic ideology of Capital Development Authority behind the allotment of farmhouses to the allottees was to enhance the poultry products, grow vegetables/fruits and supply the produce to Islamabad markets, so as to provide fresh poultry and vegetables to the inhabitants of the capital city at compatible rates,” said the report, adding that the CDA bylaws and salient terms and conditions for allotment of poultry and vegetable farmhouses are as under: -

1. 80% of land will have to be brought under intensive vegetable farming.

2. Broiler 4,500 birds per month and Layers 9,000 with production of 5,000 eggs per day.

3. The entire project has to be brought in full production within two years.

However, as against these bylaws, the inquiry report revealed, “The ground realities are otherwise in almost all cases, though the agriculture and poultry activities are in operation, production of Broiler, Layers is at small scale, sowing and cultivation of crops i.e. wheat, corn and vegetables is there but not according to the above bylaws of CDA.”

According to the report, the status and purpose of agro farming plots/schemes has never been changed and the CDA has only allowed change of use from poultry to vegetable and orchard farming and vice versa.

The report also reproduced the gist of decisions of board of directors of CDA held in this context and summarized them as: “It is important to note that in all these Board decisions of CDA, the eighty per cent (80%) area earmarked for cultivation has not been reduced so that the basic concept of agro-farms for cultivation of vegetables/fruits remain unchanged. The maximum covered area of 10,000 sq ft has been fixed within the twenty per cent remaining area of the agro-farms not meant for cultivation. Depending on the size of the agro-farm, the remaining twenty per cent area available for use other than cultivation, is as following (which in all cases fully accommodates the maximum covered areas)”:

Size of Farm 20% area

1) 2.50 acres 21,780 sq ft

2) 5.00 acres 43,560 sq ft

3) 10 acres 87,120 sq ft

While keeping in view the above salient terms and conditions of the CDA, the inquiry report suggests, “the whole tariff structure/tariff being applied specially to agriculture & poultry farm is required to be reviewed, because the ground realities are not in line with the bylaws of CDA.

The report also suggests that the CDA should be asked to provide the details of covered area by the owner of each plot according to the bylaws as mentioned above for each activity and violation of the bylaws of CDA by the owners so that the Iesco may decide the fate of tariff applicable to these farmhouses.

“In order to have a just decision a notice is required to be served to all these consumers, where violation of the terms and conditions as reported by CDA is noticed on the pretext of tariff being applied.

Notice in this context is prepared and duly vetted by the manager legal Iesco and placed at Annex “H” to avoid any legal complication at a later stage,” the report said.

Meanwhile, the Iesco inquiry into Chak Shahzad power scam recommends recovery of Rs399,050 from the ousted dictator, General ® Pervez Musharraf, for illegal use of tariff by him at his farmhouse.

“The account of the consumer is overhauled from Apr-07 to Mar-09 and a sum of Rs399,050 is recoverable on account of appropriate tariff to be charged i.e. A-1(b) subject to the approval of competent authority,” recommends the inquiry report, a copy of which is available with The News.

Exclusively dealing with Musharraf’s case of Plot-No.C-1(B), the following are the findings of the Iesco’s inquiry: “An agriculture connection having a motor of 20HP installed at plot No C-(1)-B in the name of General ® Pervez Musharraf, the former President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan after recovering the full cost of installed material including cost of 1x25KVA transformer and all other accessories amounting to Rs75,577 paid on 02.12.2003.

“On 25.02.2009 an application vide No.28/A-1(b) for extension of load from 17KW to 70KW and change of tariff from tube well connection to domestic connection was received. Demand notices on full cost amounting to Rs376,108 under the head of capital cost, which includes the cost of 100 KVA sub-station by giving credit of removed transformer in accordance with the policy in vogue i.e. at depreciated value and demand notice of Rs102,000 on account of security deposits were issued and accordingly paid by the consumer on 24.03.2009.

“Complete plot is surrounded by a 10 to 12 feet high boundary wall fixed with barbed wire on top of the wall besides rolled barbed wire along with the boundary wall. The security is very tight and it is not possible to ascertain the usage of electricity inside the walled plot.

“It is assumed from the increase in consumption that the construction of the house was started in April, 2007 and it might be completed from the connection installed for agriculture tube well (consumption data is placed Annex: “F”. The electricity used for the construction purpose is required to be charged on appropriate tariff i.e. Domestic (A-1), as per policy circulated by the GMCs vide letter No 1191-1708/GMCS/Tariffs/T-136/VOL-VII dated 17-08-2000. The amount of the consumer is overhauled from Apr-07 to Mar-09 and a sum of Rs399,050 is recoverable on account of appropriate tariff to be charged i.e. A-1 (b) subject to approval of competent authority.”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=184148