LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) Land Acquisition Wing is alleged to have provided millions of rupees to industry for its land that had already been acquired by LDA in the 1970s.
The Benz Industries Limited, a functioning industrial building unit, was erected on the ground in the Mauza Kharrak area of Main Multan Road, Lahore.
In December 2021, the owners of the factory applied for payment of cash compensation against the land acquisition of the property owned by them.
The then Land Acquisition Collector (LAC) of LDA consulted the available record of land acquisition in the ‘70s and the case of ‘Adjustment of Land’ of the factory.
He claimed that the land measuring 32K-02M owned by the factory was acquired for the Allama Iqbal Town Scheme through different Land Acquisition Awards.
The factory had opted for adjustment of land, which was considered by the policy in vogue and resulted in an Agreement of Adjustment of Land registered in the office of the Sub-Registrar.
The report of LAC revealed that Khasra #695 (2K-14M) and Khasra #696 (4K-9M) had already been acquired in Award #11 dated 12/06/1980, for Alama Iqbal Housing Scheme, but was mistakenly acquired by the Orang Line Train project in 2016.
The factory requested payment of compensation for the land acquisition of Khasra #695 & 696 for the Orange Line Project, despite these land khasra numbers having already been acquired in 1980.
Furthermore, the case was lodged with the Anti-Corruption Establishment in 2022, but no action was taken.
Source: The News
