ISLAMABAD: After facing controversies over built-up property (BuP) claims, the new management of Capital Development Authority (CDA) is mulling ending the policy of handing over plots against BuP claims and instead pay cash compensation to the affected people.

The CDA also decided that form now onward both the land BuP (houses) awards will be announced the same day to avoid delays in land acquisitions.

The CDA acquires land from people for sector developments, road construction and against the acquire land it provides two types of compensation: landholders are given one kanal developed plot against their four kanals and a five-marla plot to the owner of a house.

However, in the past, the CDA in a highly dubious manner did not announce both the awards the same day and first announced only the land award. The BUP awards were left pending that resulted in increase of houses on the acquired land.

Chairman says practice of allotting plots against built-up property claims to be discontinued

Speaking to Dawn, CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq said that for new acquisition he and his team were planning to end the practice of allotting plots against BuP claims rather the affected people would be given cash compensation. He said that it hads also been decided in principle that for new acquisition the CDA will announce both awards the same day.

The chairman said that the new policy will be placed before the CDA board for final approval. He clarified that the policy will be applicable on new acquisitions.

Due to the delay in announcement of the built-up property (BuP) awards of seven sectors acquired 16 years ago, encroachments have been increasing in these areas that will result in the loss of CDA’s resources in the shape of paying extra compensation to the owners.

Similarly, without announcing the BuP awards, the CDA is also unable to get possession of the land of its acquired sectors for starting development work.

In 2008-9, the CDA acquired seven sectors, but in a highly questionable move it did not announce the BuP awards together with the land awards. Technically, both land and BuP awards should have been announced the same day for smooth land acquisition.

The matter of pending BuP awards was also discussed in the federal cabinet in 2021 and the CDA was directed to announce all pending BuP awards without any delay. The sectors whose BuP awards are pending include E-13, F-13, C-14, C-16, I-17 and H-16. The BuP award of C-15 had been announced in 2016 and 2023, but allotment letters are not issued yet.

The adverse possession of land is a major hurdle in development of new sectors. The civic agency has failed to launch any new sector during the last around two decades. However, it developed a housing scheme, Park Enclave I, while development work is near completion in sector I-15 and work is continued in I-12, C-14 and C-15.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2023