CDA's Open Plots: Threat to People's Lives!
By Raza Mumtaz - Pakistan Times Executive Editor

A FEW months ago, the inhabitants of the Capital city felt a sigh of relief when they saw a story that CDA is embarking upon a gigantic project that is; the sale of unoccupied, deserted and empty plots and places in Islamabad’s multiple vicinities.

Indeed it was not less than ’breaking news’ for all those people, who are facing perils of manifold nature, especially the ones, who have such naked sites, adjacent to their homes.

Such inhabitants of Islamabad did not feel cheerful for the raison d'être that such piece(s) of land are going to be annexed with their hamlets but for the reason that with the emergence of structures in the shape of houses in their backyards, they will at least be able to have a comfortable sound sleep instead of keeping their eyes open in most of the hours in the chilly nights.

And of-course, simultaneously waiting for safe-haven whistles, beamed by privately hired ‘Chowkidars’ or security guards—for the protection of their dignity, honor, with their lives and property—atop.

Virtually, it is not a simple dilemma for such residents of Islamabad. Rather a big security risk for all those, living next to such uncovered residential plots—situated without boundary walls and explicitly with completely open fronts. Thus providing alarming ‘convenience’ to any miscreant to step in or jump into the built-up structures.

If one goes through the building by-laws of CDA, everyone who is ‘blessed’ with allotment of a plot or the one who purchases via auction or a transfer deal, is ought to raise an edifice on such a plot in a stipulated period, which prima facie ought not go beyond five years.

Yet, it is amazing that there are several vicinities in the federal capital, where CDA plots are still vacant beneath the open skies for decades. To quote an example, the by now, underprivileged and neglected locality—I-10/2 is confronted with such problem ever since the advent of the Sector, almost 25 years ago.

Whenever a process for the disposal of open or vacant plots was initiated by CDA, the dwellers of this locale felt optimistic that—if not facilities like E, F, G, H or elite-class I-8—at least the problem of deserted plots shall ‘bless’ them with a perfumed breeze. Nonetheless, it eventually turned nothing more than an illusion, a fantasy or an icon alike castle in the sky.

The most recent hint of auction by CDA was almost seven/eight months ago. Yet that, too came to a halt without a focus on smaller Sectors like I-10/2, when ‘process of auction’ came to a standstill and the men, assigned to accomplish this assignment wrapped up their folding chairs, visibly for reasons best known to the estate managers of CDA.

This move for disposing of unfilled places rayed to the residents a ‘twinkling star’ vis-à-vis their security risks with an optimism that this time their dream may with any luck get translated into a reality, opening vistas of best possible safety for their families.

And that they would at least get rid of perpetual scare with the emergences of buildings in their backyards, which invariably get targeted by anonymous criminals via stray stones pouring in as perilous threat to the lives and chattels for the poor residents—minimally smashing the windowpanes.

Of-course no one owns the responsibility for this type of illicit act(s) and sometime scuffles do surface, paving ways for horrid ambiance in such a vicinity instead of birth of love and affection—a hallmark for a civilized environments for neighbors living in any direction.

Reports, carried by a section of the Press say that CDA has mounted its income with billions of rupees by open auctions of commercial plots in different sectors in the capital city and that it has completed this task.

Wonderful! But, pragmatically, CDA does need more money for its development programmes and is ought to generate maximum funds side-by-side its usual budget allocations, emanating from its own resources, backed by a set of grants from the national exchequer.

Hitherto, what prevents it to apply the same yardstick about vacant residential plots? Isn’t it a very genuine question mark? There may a confide reason for it yet prima facie there seems none as CDA is the sole proprietor of every inch of bare and exposed land, facing skies in its territorial jurisdiction.

And, to this effect, there must be a lot of powers vested in the top-brass of CDA by the rules, governing the affairs of the authority. If so, what the harm in exerting such mandates towards such empty plots by putting then on the auction or if CDA rules allow onto the allotment list?

Even otherwise, CDA can conveniently give a permanent or temporary possession of such plots—which are vacant for the past over 10 years in the back-space of a built house, either as ‘Shamla’at’ [annex] or ‘Spurdari’ [transitory protection of the land]—with any terms and conditions which suit CDA.

Such a course shall not only help protect the residents of the specific localities but would also shield the lawful property of the Capital Development Authority.

As a matter of fact, most of such open plots and places are literally converging into filth depots by persons who take full advantage of the last days of moon and take full advantage of darkness for dumping un-wanted articles of their house-holds, even to the extent of filth and beyond that sand, scrapped brick-pieces and what not.

In fact, such open spots give a shabby look to Capital, which is now-a-days being given a fascinating and dazzling look through swift beautification crusade by the great aesthetic soul, Kamran Lashari, the zestful Chairman.

Aside, the ‘E’ [Excellent] ‘F’ [Fabulous], ‘G’ [Grand] ‘H’ [Heavens]—one can expect that ‘I’ [Ignored] Sector shall also be blessed with beautification—simply with a stroke of pen by the big boss [the Chairman], who is bestowed by all-out authorities for congenial up-keep and pollution-free environments for the people on the basis of equilibrium sans any discrimination.

Not only that the smaller Sectors—like I-10/2 are still deprived of widened andsmooth road, concealed electric, telephone and cable-operators’ wires, appropriate parks, ideal playground, much-needed footpaths, first-class sanitation facilities, best possible sewerage system, children playing-fields with related gadgets, neat and clean smooth silky streets and lanes as well as encroachment-free boulevards—even the main way which links I-9 to I-10, the Sohni Road still remains without light, despite the fact that CDA had spent millions of rupees for installation of mercury lights [as is alleged a single one cost almost Rs. 15000—which remain switched-off to-date]—giving a deserted look to the key link.

Not only this, even with the passage of time, abnormal plants, converging as bushes are also airing un-hygienic conditions at such places, I mean in the smaller Sectors, a phenomenon which is comparatively rare in this budding city.

Leaving all these momentous aspects at the mercy of the CDA, the paramount need relates to the quick disposal of vacant plots. Of-course CDA must be having an up-dated record of such spaces. What’s behind this, only CDA is acquainted with?

But, the people in the elfin Sectors would in no way like to see such a situation to persist—any-more. If this piece is gazed at by the Chairman CDA with a follow-up taking a Suo Moto instant action, believe me, this gesture shall not only avert all sorts of security risks to human lives but would also get Mr. Lashari named indexed with matchless words in the folio of CDA’s lexicon.

And, in addition to this bona fide plea, if the CDA chief does something for the improvement of such Sectors [smaller ones] through instant orders to his relevant departments to take-up the task of betterment of these vicinities—in the same style as is being done for the ‘privileged’ Sectors—the existing impression, very often expressed by people; ‘Oh, I see I-10 of Adda Peer Wadahi’ may get altered into the ‘Base of Islamabad”.

Isn’t it correct, Mr. Chairman?●