ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to properly run its sacrificial animal market set up in Sector 1-12 as most animal sellers are still using the old site in I-11.

The civic agency, which established the temporary cattle market at Sector 1-12/2 this year, seems helpless in removing the animal sellers from the old market at Sector I-11.

CDA officials blamed the police for not stopping the flow of animals to Sector I-11.

`Though our efforts are underway to vacate the area and shift the animals to the designated place, it`s a difficult task,` said a senior official of the CDA who wished not to be named.

Meanwhile, the CDA on Monday submitted a written complaint with Sabzi Mandi police for registration of an FIR against those selling sacrificial animals in Sector I-11.

The application stated: `The CDA has established a municipal cattle market in Sector 1-12/2 to facilitate citizens in buying sacrificial animals. However, few individuals haveestablished a sale point in I-11/4 and surrounding areas.

The deputy commissioner has imposed a ban on the establishment of such an illegal sale point under Section 144. The animal sellers have been warned by the CDA and the police to shift to the designated place but they are violating the directives, it added.

The CDA said the animal sellers were causing hindrance to traffic and also becoming a source of nuisance for the residents. They are also evading government levies and fees.

CDA sources said this year the authority awarded contract for Rs10 million. If appropriate measures are not taken for the removal of the illegal cattle market, the civic agency may face financial losses as the contractor would not be in a position to malce the full payment, they added.

When contacted, CDA spol(esman Ramzan Sajid said efforts were being made to remove the illegal mandi.

`We have filed an application with the Sabzi Mandi police for the registration of an FIR against the animal sellers. Secondly, efforts are alsobeing made to get police help in starting an anti-encroachment operation to remove the illegal mandi.

Moharar of Sabzi Mandi police station Mohammad Ishaq told Dawn that no FIR had been registered on the application.

He said the police had received several applications from various stakeholders such as the contractor of the cattle market in I-12, the CDA and even some animal sellers who claimed that they had lost a number of animals due to CDA`s interference in their business.

`A final decision about the registration of an FIR will be taken by our senior officers. We will support the CDA in removing the illegal mandi,` he said.

When asked how the sellers managed to bring the animals to Sector I-11, he said there were no police pickets in every place.

`The CDA should have deployed their force to avoid encroachment at the site,` he said, adding that the police were trying to stop trucks carrying animals to the site. Kashif Abbasi