MARDAN, Nov 7: Residents of Risalpur Cantonment have spoken of “harsh attitude” of the cantonment board officials.

The civilians and ex-army officers inhabiting the area say they have been facing a situation they had not faced before.

Recently, the cantt officials asked them to deposit Rs1.7 million per house for their lease renewal, which they did accordingly, an officer told this correspondent on condition of anonymity.

Then, said the officer, they were given an option that if they wanted to sub-divide their houses into residential plots, they should deposit a further Rs1.63 million approximately.

The officials told them that this amount was actually for development works like roads and electrification of the surrounding areas.

He claimed that according to the contractors, the total cost was much lower than the money collected from the residents. Despite all this, no development work had been carried out yet, he deplored.

He also said that while there was a ban on construction of double-storey building, there existed no bye-law to this effect.