Avenue-I scheme – an endless trouble for LDA,

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The recent scam emerged in the Avenue-I residential scheme has put the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) into a new trouble.

The scheme has been endlessly in trouble since its launching in 2003 on Raiwind Road, about six kilometer further away from Thokar Niaz Beg.

Initially, its development work was affected badly after many people challenged the land acquisition process on the plea that they were being offered far less compensation.

This led to putting allotment of over 3,500 plots to people at stake besides involving the LDA into a massive litigation and increasing cost of the development work in billions.

Still 30 per cent of the total scheme’s land is yet to be developed and no one knows that those whose plots were under litigation will be given possession in the near future or not.

To address the issue, the LDA about a year back had decided to create additional plots in the scheme either by decreasing the size of existing plots or roads, greenbelts or other open spaces, including public utility sites.

The LDA’s Additional Directors General (Headquarters and Housing), Strategic Policy Unit (SPU), Town Planning and other directorates concerned were assigned the task of creating new plots for the affected. But no-one knew that those deputed for accomplishing the assignment were doing their work sincerely.

Since under the strategy for creating additional or alternate plots the scheme’s plan was in the phase of amendment on the basis of location, relocation, allocation and adjustment of new plots, some of the officials planned to achieve their vested interests.

According to insiders, the officials, including the Avenue-1 director, SPU’s Geographical Information System specialist, Town Planning deputy director and Avenue-1 assistant director set a unique precedent of fraud by changing location of plots in the revised scheme plan to give benefit to some people against ‘heavy bribe’.

“Though all aforementioned officials/officers were on board, the task of locating/relocating or allocating plots was assigned to the GIS specialist. Similarly, a group of property dealers was also involved in facilitating other officials in purchasing plots on not-so-attractive locations on throw-away prices from sellers, changing their location in the scheme plan and finally dispose them of on higher rates,” says an official, who requested anonymity.

The official said an inquiry team was constituted to probe the matter as soon as the scam emerged. During a fact-finding inquiry, it proved that the aforementioned officials were directly involved in amending the scheme plan on their own to show some plots on better locations to benefit their clients.

On the recommendation of the team, the administration surrendered and repatriated services of the Avenue-1 director, a deputationist, to S&GAD department with a request to launch a regular inquiry against him under the PEEDA Act-2006 besides suspending the GIS specialist, Town Planning deputy director and Avenue-1 assistant director from service.

“During the inquiry proceedings, it came to light that Nadeem Abbas Bhango (director) was guilty as he remained inefficient to have better supervisory control over various affairs of LDA Avenue-I housing scheme which resulted in corrupt practices and scams like illegal relocation of plots,” reads a letter sent to S&GAD department.

It mentions that locations of plot No 50, Block-A, along with other plots in the LDA Avenue-I were changed in blatant violations of law/policy in connivance with other LDA officials to benefit private persons/stakeholders with the intention to get some illegal gratification and personal gain out of the whole transaction.

According to LDA director (administration) Khalid Pervaiz, the GIS specialist, DD and AD have been issued show-cause notices and this may lead to a further disciplinary action against them.

He said the final action against the director would be taken by the S&GAD department.

LDA Director-General Ahad Khan Cheema said that officials involved in the scam were liable to be punished in altering the scheme plan to fulfill their vested interests.

He said the location of plots as mentioned in the inquiry report was allegedly changed and shown in the scheme plan near the commercial area by guilty officials.

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has intensified its move against the eateries and food outlets and adulterators involved in selling unhygienic food items to the people.

The move has been intensified since the start of Ramazan last week. According to PFA officials, under the new plan, Lahore has been divided into various zones keeping in view the number and location of the eateries.

“Last week we sealed five small factories preparing/manufacturing samosa patti in an unhygienic conditions. These factories were sealed in Wafaqi Colony, Mughalpura and Raiwind Road areas,” an official said. He said various renowned food outlets on MM Alam Road (Gulberg), near Hussain Chowk, Johar Town, Township, Shalimar, Shadman, Garden Town, Model Town and other localities were also sealed.

Cases were also being registered besides imposition of heavy fines on owners. —()

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1189933



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