ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from converting the green belt of F-11 sector into residential plots for its employees.

Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan of the court also issued notices to the CDA chairman, directors enforcement and planning; Iesco chief executive and director general of the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in a petition filed by residents of the sector.

Dr Aslam Khaki, counsel for the petitioners, informed the court that CDA developed Sector F-11 in accordance with its master plan with a green and open area in the close neighborhood to ensure greenery and clean air. He said the petitioners purchased the plots at the high price due to its specific environment.

He alleged that now the CDA had created small plots in the green belt by changing its master plan and was allotting them to its employees in clear violation of the land disposal regulations 2005. He said the creation of plots close to the rainwater streams would also pollute the water.

The green belt was reserved to ensure clean environment and for the high tension 132 KV transmission line of Iesco which is passing through the locality. In case of construction of houses on the newly-created plots, the houses as well as the adjoining vicinity will become vulnerable to electric shock risks and electric waves. The Supreme Court in Shehla Zia case of 1990 had declared such high tension wires close to houses as risky, he added.

Dr Khaki also produced a PEPCO letter written on August 16, 2011, to the CDA chief stating that the plots were located very close to the 132 KV tower and transmission line and any excavation, construction activities so close to the high transmission line may cause not only collapse of the tower but also any fatal accident.

The petition said the layout plan of F-11 classified residential and public utility plots. The public places are left uncharged while the residential plots are allotted to people on price settled by CDA. It contended that the cost of the uncharged public utility and public spaces, in fact, were covered and included in the price of residential plots in the scheme. Hence, all such public utility properties and public open spaces are the property of the residents. It said CDA had only supervisory authority to develop and maintain such places.—Malik Asad