CDA increases covered area of plots in farmhouses

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) in order to give protection to illegal constructions already carried by the influential owners of the farmhouses or Orchard Scheme on Thursday allowed increase in covered area of plots.

The CDA board also approved layout plan of the Sector F-14 to be developed by the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF).The board meeting which held with the chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz in the chair, approved increase in covered area of farmhouses from 4,500 square feet to 9,500 square feet.

The concept behind allotment of plots for farmhouses for poultry and vegetation purposes was to meet daily poultry, vegetable and fruits requirements of residents of the federal capitals but instead the farmhouses were converted into luxury palaces.

The directives of the Supreme Court for action against illegal constructions in farmhouses also fell on deaf ear and no significant action was taken by influential which also included sitting and ex-parliamentarians.

The decision regarding increase in covered area of farmhouses is likely to draw criticism from many quarters as some legal experts are already considering to move the apex court against it.Some farmhouses were also making non conforming use of plots by allowing wedding events on commercial basis.

The CDA board also approved a summary according to which the pensions of retired employees of CDA would be released through commercial banks instead of General Post Office (GPO) Islamabad. In the first phase, the employees of officer’s cadre would get this facility.

During approval of layout plan of sector F-14, the board members were informed that the commercial land in the sector would be divided equally between FGEHF and CDA. In this way, the CDA is estimated to earn over Rs 15 billion from auction of commercial plots in Sector F-14.