ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to collect direct access and right of way charges set by its Board two years back. The said charges were supposed to be collected by Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) from the owners of petrol pumps, CNG stations and housing societies. The CDA Board in its meeting held on December 24, 2014 had decided to collect uniform charges from all petrol pumps, CNG stations and housing societies which are using direct access from main roads by passing through CDA’s owned right of way. It was decided that petrol pumps and CNG stations will pay Rs 50,000 per month, housing societies up to 400 kanals will pay Rs 266,000 per month, and hosing societies between 401 to 800 kanals will pay Rs 562,000 per month while housing societies of having above than 800 kanals area will pay Rs 800,000 per month. The decision further stated that the said charges would be imposed from the date of this decision and the owners will be asked to deposit the aforementioned charges for five years in advance and after the completion of five years the charges would be collected on monthly bases. The decision was also published in the Gazette of Pakistan in June 2015 whereas the same was conveyed to the DMA for further action by planning wing, but unfortunately the said formation has been failed to collect even a single sum in this regards, which caused loss of millions to public exchequer. When questioned the Director DMA Capitan (R) Shahbaz Tahir Nadeem has responded; “we have served notices to the owners of petrol pumps and housing societies and we will collect these charges soon”, but when asked to provide a copy of any notice or a list of persons whom the notices have been severed, he filed to produce such notice. However, the Member Planning of the civic body, Asad Mehboob Kiani while talking to the Daily Times expressed his ignorance about the negligence and said, “It was the duty of DMA to collect these charges and if it fails then we will take action and dues will be collected from every one without any discrimination.” An officer of the authority familiar to the facts commented, “The civic body is pursuing dual policy as at the time when it disconnects utility connections, cancel permissions of tea stalls over non-payment of dues at the same time Petrol/CNG pumps and Housing Societies are using direct access of major highways without paying a single penny to the authority because they fulfills the private needs of DMA officers.” He briefed that over 100 petrol pumps and CNG stations while dozens of housing societies are using direct access through Islamabad Express Highway, Kashmir Highway and main Great Trunk Road, but DMA does not collect charges even from a single party in light of board’s decision. He further said, “It is not an ordinary amount, but a single petrol pump is liable to pay Rs 3,000,000 for five year in advance and the charges are heaver then this amount in case of housing societies.” Although, there is no question of doubt about the negligence of DMA in its failure to collect such a heavy amount besides a clear decision of CDA board and its followed publication in Gazette of Pakistan, but now another question is equally important that who will collect this amount after the devolution of functions among civic body and MCI.