ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday announced that it was going to resolve the pending compensation issues of land-affected people on a priority basis.

It said the compensation issues would be resolved in phases. The civic agency has failed to clear the compensation benefits of the affected people whose land it had acquired years ago and who were entitled to get plots/cash compensation.

Sources said thousands of cases were pending with the CDA. “We have decided to resolve all genuine issues of land affected persons. But bogus and fake cases would not only be strictly refused but legal action will also be taken,” said an officer of the CDA.

In the past, the CDA land directorate remained in controversy for allegedly entertaining the cases on pick and choose basis, which was the main reasons behind the piling up of cases.

Civic body says comprehensive plan devised to award rehabilitation benefits to affected people

This time round, however, the CDA management has been claiming that all cases would be given same treatment. Besides land compensation cases of many sectors, the CDA has failed to announce built-up property (BuP) of almost six sectors which it had acquired in 2008.

The BUP awards could not be announced till date for these sectors to get possession of the land.

The sources said the land and BUP awards should have been announced the same day for immediately getting possession of land. However, the CDA in a highly questionable move in the past announced land awards and kept the BuP awards pending. As a result, it could not take possession of the land.

A press release issued by the CDA on Sunday said: “In line with the directions of the Chairman Capital Development Authority retired Capt Mohammad Usman Younis, all out efforts are being made to resolve all the problems of the citizens, especially the affectees of Islamabad.

“The rehabilitation process which was halted since long will be restarted. Furthermore, steps are also being taken to announce the BUP awards soon for those sectors where the awards in respect of BUPs have not yet been announced.”

It claimed that concrete steps had been taken which will help resolve the problems of the affected persons.

“The CDA chairman himself visited different areas in the first phase to better understand the problems of the affectees and also chaired Khuli kutcheries at the sites to solve the problems of the affected persons at their doorsteps.

He along with officers of the concerned departments have visited the areas of E-12 Chak Mojohan, Dakhli Kuri, Sheikhpur, Sarai-i-Kharboza and other sectors,” the press release said.

It said on special instructions of the chairman, member estate, deputy DG land and director land were visiting various areas on a weekly basis to listen to the problems of the affected persons.

Similarly, it said camps were also established in different areas for addressing problems of affected persons including correction in records on the spot.

It said a comprehensive plan had been devised to resolve the longstanding problems of affected people and those who had not yet received the rehabilitation benefits would get it in accordance with rules.

Under the plan, the rehabilitation benefits would be released phase wise so that the problems of the affected persons could be resolved and work on the development of sectors accelerated.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2022