'Illegal' allotment of plots to employees: Senate panel directs CDA to produce records in three days

Taking strong exception of 'illegal' allotment of over 3,000 plots by CDA to its employees, the Senate standing committee on interior has directed the Authority to submit all records pertaining to the allotments, within three days.
The committee chairman, Mohammad Talha Mehmood, said this while addressing a news conference here on Monday. He said that the committee expressed serious concerns on "illegal and out of turn allotments" of plots to CDA employees in different sectors, particularly in the much expensive I-8 and G-11 sectors.
He said that according to committee observation and findings, CDA has recently allotted 3194 plots to its employees by violating rules. He said that the method adopted by the CDA in allotting these plots was against the set rules, and added that according to the judgements of High Court and Supreme Court only 20 percent quota had been given to CDA employees on one-time basis, whereas the CDA allotted 3194 plots in the developed sectors, without following LDR-2005 Rule, "since it is not empowered to do so", he added.
He said that out of 343 legal plots, the CDA had allotted 282 plots during 1990-01 and the judgements of Supreme Court and High Court were misinterpreted regarding the remaining 61 plots.
He said that CDA could not allot plots in the developed sectors without open auction, whereas the Authority had also made allotments to those officials who were working on deputation, against the set rules.
He said that those who are in Category A have been granted 600 sq yards plots, against their entitlement of 500 sq yards, and similar violations have also been committed as far as the allotments to lower grade employees was concerned.
Talha said that the committee has asked the Interior Ministry to coordinate with the committee prior to taking any decision on the allotment issue following the investigations process, and make it clear that whether the CDA has interpreted the courts' judgements in a legal way.
It was also questioned in the meeting why the CDA had hired a private law firm to give recommendations on allotment of plots by spending huge money despite having a full-fledged legal department.
The committee further asked the CDA to provide details of those officers who are working on 'current charge', saying that no officer could work for more than six moths on current charge.
Besides, the committee also expressed concern on slow completion of mega development projects and use of substandard material by the contractors, and directed the CDA to present a separate report on development projects to the committee. He said that the committee had also directed the CDA to expedite and make easy the process of issuance of completion certificates regarding transfer of plots.
The committee also asked the civic body to take action against those owners of high-rising buildings who have not yet got completion certificates. The chairman said that on the recommendations of the committee, the Establishment Division has given approval to make recruitment against over 2000 vacant posts in CDA. The meeting was attended by Hamidullah Jan Afridi, Tahira Latif, Tahir Hussain Mushidi, CDA Chairman and other concerned officials.