LAHORE: The government has imposed section 5 under the Land Acquisition Act-1894, notifying chunks of land required on a priority basis for the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project within revenue limits of Lahore city district. The land identified and notified [measuring over 2,562 kanal] is situated in seven mauzas.

According to a notification signed jointly by the Lahore commissioner, district collector, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Ravi Urban Development Authority chairman and RUDA land acquisition collectors-1 and 2, the priority land, which has been identified to be acquired included 117 kanal and 8 marla (Mauza Harnaralnpura), seven kanal and 11 marla (Jia Musa), 300 kanal and 13 marla (Bhamma), 300 kanal (Targarh), 37 kanal and 17 marla (Shahdara), 1,226 kanal (Hardo Jabo) and 573 kanal and 3 marla (Karolwar), totaling 2,562 kanal and 12 marla.

“Whereas, the commissioner is satisfied that the land notified under section 4 of the land acquisition act-1894 issued by the collector, Lahore vide letter No. LAC / 824-2020 of Oct 6, 2020 read with three addendums bearing No. LAC/824-2020/28 of Oct 14, 2020, LAC/824-2020/32 of Oct 29, 2020 and Lac/824-2020/86 of Jan 6, 2021 duly published in the Punjab Gazzette Extraordinary Issue on Oct 6, 14 and 29, 2020 and Jan 6, 2021 respectively for public purpose namely “Establishment of River Ravi Front City” by the RUDA at public expenses,” explains the notification issued on Jan 8.

“Now therefore, in exercise of powers under section 5 of the act, the commissioner has been satisfied that the land specified in the notification is needed for the said purpose. Any person, who is interested and who has any objection to the applicant of the land may within 30 days of the publication of the notification, file objections in writing before the land acquisition collectors (RUDA), Lahore,” it reads.

Over 2,562 kanal situated in seven mauzas; notification invites public to inspect acquisition plan at offices of collector (Lahore) and RUDA head

The notification invites the public to inspect the land acquisition plan in the offices of collector (Lahore) and the RUDA chairman. It clarifies that the land upon which any religious place or worship, shrine, graveyard or any immovable property attached to any institution and the boundaries of which are contiguous with the site of the same be excluded from the plan. “Similarly the Waqf, Evacuee and State properties shall also be excluded.”

It merits mentioning that the government, in general, had issued a notification last year, imposing section 4 of the land acquisition act about the proposed project area comprising several mauzas of Lahore and Sheikhupura districts.

The process [land acquisition] starts with section 4 of the act, followed by section 5, 5-A, 6 to 12, 12-A to 16 etc comprising various steps.

“These steps include publication of preliminary notification and powers of officers thereupon, issuing notification that particular land is needed for a public purpose or for a company, hearing of objections, declaring land required for public purpose, ordering for acquisition, land to be marked out, measured and planned, issuing notices to persons interested, requiring and enforcing the making of statements as to names and interests, enquiry and award by collector, award of collector (when to be final), correction of mistake, adjournment of enquiry, summoning and enforcing attendance of witnesses and production of documents, matters to be considered or neglected, taking possession and others,” explains an official source.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021