Farms in Islamabad violating CDA rules

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) proposal to start a housing project on Pakistan Agriculture Research Council land in Chak Shehzad, Islamabad has rightly been opposed and highlighted by the media and politicians but neither any politician has raised any voice against illegal and non-conforming use of farm ouses in Chak Shehzad nor is the CDA interested in canceling the lease of those who are not growing vegetables/poultry product on commercial basis on this land for the consumption of twin cities residents.
According to the by-laws of CDA, farms measuring 2.5 acres, 5 acres and 10 acres were allotted to people for the purpose of growing vegetables and poultry products for the local markets of Islamabad/Rawalpindi but instead of being used for this purpose, a Chak Shehzad farmhouse is considered a status symbol in the capital where the elite reside. During the Musharraf era, even the CDA bypassed its laws to allow the owners of farmhouses to construct palatial structures at these farmhouses.
The Chak Shehzad farmhouse scheme presents almost a complete and glaring violation of the CDA bylaws where the ground realities are entirely different from what the authority’s bylaws say as almost none of the around 600 farmhouses is adhering to the purpose it was allotted.
The basic ideology of CDA 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.
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, 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.
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 CDA first allowed the unauthorised construction of farmhouses in Chak Shehzad enhancing the covered area of a farm from 4,850 sq/ft to 10,000 sq/ft to please the elite. But later when the Supreme Court took notice of illegal construction and non-conforming use of the farm house, the CDA issued notices to the owners of these farmhouses to keep built up structure at 4,850 sq/ft. It is important to note that in all the Board decisions of CDA, the eighty per cent (80%) area earmarked for cultivation was never reduced so that the basic concept of agro-farms for cultivation of vegetables/fruits remains unchanged. The maximum covered area of 10,000 sq ft was fixed within the twenty per cent remaining area of the agro-farms not meant for cultivation.
Of late, a few owners of the farm houses approached the Islamabad High Court seeking a stay order over the demolition of encroachments and initiation of any action by CDA claiming that CDA had given permission to the owners to seek ownership of the farmhouses measuring 10,000 square feet and had given ownership rights on 33 years lease and later CDA administration issued an SRO wherein it had said that the action will be taken against the people possessing areas beyond 4,850 square feet.
The spokesman of CDA, Ramzan Sajid when contacted by The News said that upon orders of the SC the CDA initiated action against the non-conforming farm houses and has restricted the build-up structure at 4,850 sq/ft. he mentioned that CDA has submitted compliance reports in the apex court in this regard after demolishing the additional built-up structures at farm houses. He said that CDA has so far restricted the palatial build-up structures. However, CDA will ensure that all the farmhouses are being used for the purpose they were allotted, i.e. growing vegetables and poultry products.
Sources in CDA disclosed that the prices of the farmhouses are skyrocketing and it has become impossible for the civic body to ensure that these farms are used for agriculture purpose and not as luxurious living palaces. The sources maintained that even during the recent auctions held by the CDA, the agro farms were not appreciated by the buyers given their prices and the purpose they should be used.
Should these non-conforming so-called farmhouses be made to surrender leases, beginning with the VIP’s including holy cows?