The Express Tribune
written by Staff
Thursday April 11, 2013
ISLAMABAD - The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has once again issued ‘final’ notices to agro-farm owners for violation of rules. They have been ordered to fall in line within a week or face the music.
This is the third time since March 21, 2013, when the CDA submitted a report to the Supreme Court about violations of lease terms by agro-farm owners, informing the court that the farm owners have been given a week to comply with the bylaws.
On Wednesday, the civic agency said it issued final notices to the farm owners who have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of their farm allotments, but it appeared to be a mere extension of the earlier deadline.
If the owners do not come into compliance after seven days, the allotments of farm houses will be cancelled.
CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz reviewed the progress of the CDA’s operation against bylaw violations during a meeting on Wednesday.
Agro-farms were allotted for the growing fruits, vegetable as well as for poultry products. According to the terms and conditions, the owners of poultry farms are supposed to produce 4,500 broilers a month and 5,000 eggs a day. Similarly, vegetable farms must ensure 80 per cent of the farm area is under cultivation.
But according to a recent CDA survey of 498 farmhouses, which was later disputed by the owners, 82 farms are undeveloped, while a number of others were guilty of other violations, including use of the excess covered area for commercial purposes such as weddings and restaurants.
Shahbaz said a proper and effective monitoring system should be established to discourage wedding ceremonies at the agro farms.
He directed planning’s member Mustafain Kazmi to identify and plan marriage lawns at appropriate locations in different sectors. The marriage lawns would be offered for open auction.
The CDA claims it has recovered Rs2 million in fines from the agro-farm owners for “non-development” so far. Another Rs17 million was claimed in the form of fines against illegal construction.
The Building Control and Enforcement directorates staff along with a CDA magistrate are carrying out operations against the bylaw violators. Some farm owners have agreed to demolish their illegal structures on their own.
Shahbaz said the agro-farm owners’ recommendations for reduction in the 12,500 square feet of covered farm area and for constructing cold storage facilities in the basements of farms would be brought up in the next board meeting.
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