ISLAMABAD: More than 15,000 kanals of amenity and road land meant for public use have yet to be transferred to the Capital Development Authority by private housing societies, even as the civic agency intensifies operations against illegal slums in the federal capital.

According to CDA regulations, 34 housing schemes were required to hand over designated amenity plots for facilities such as parks, schools, mosques and roads. However, the land remains untransferred after years, while officials say some societies allegedly converted amenity plots into residential units and sold them in the market.

The issue has resurfaced as the authority continues anti encroachment drives across the city. After demolishing the illegal Muslim Colony in the Bari Imam area, enforcement teams have launched operations against Rimsha Colony in H 9 and Shapar Colony in G 7, where makeshift structures and shops were removed in the first phase.

Residents of the settlements recently staged protests against the planned demolitions, warning that large scale evictions could leave hundreds of families homeless. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also urged authorities to adopt a humanitarian approach while dealing with vulnerable communities.

Citizens say the crackdown should not focus solely on slums. Many residents argue that authorities must first recover amenity land from powerful housing societies before targeting low income settlements occupying small patches of land.

CDA officials insist that action is being taken across the board. Spokesperson Shahid Kiani said the authority has cancelled No Objection Certificates of several defaulting societies, sealed their offices and blocked access roads, while multiple cases related to the disputed land are currently pending before courts.