KARACHI, Sept 26: The City Government has started development works in the New Malir Housing Project, at an estimated cost of Rs 3.5 billion, and Rs 270 million have been allocated for initials works and provision of basic facilities during the current fiscal.

The Nazim Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, launched the development works on Thursday, with the levelling of land and construction of roads.

The director-general of the defunct Malir Development Authority, Abdul Jalil, elected representatives, area notables and project allottees were also present.

The City Nazim regretted that the MDA as a government body, recovered money from the allottees but they were neither given land after a lapse of many years, nor any development works were initiated.

He said a big amount had been sanctioned for construction of roads and now there would be no suspension of development works.

Naimatullah directed that steps be taken for provision of other facilities and concerned organisations of water, electricity, telephone and gas be sent letters within a week.

He said in case any impediment is faced at any stage, he would personally talk to the concerned officials.

He said that 2,000 allottees of Phase-I of the project be allotted plots within three weeks, along with the issuance of allotment orders. The Nazim also inspected various sectors of the project.

In a briefing, the D-G MDA, Abdul Jalil, said that work on construction of 40km of major roads had started and phase-I would be completed in three weeks while excavation work for laying of 40-km long sewerage lines had also been taken in hand.

It was stated that some 22,500 plots of 110, 200 and 400 sq yards have been carved out in the project, to be developed on an area of 2200 acres. In the first phase, 2000 allottees would be given plots while work on town-planing of the remaining area was being speedily carried out.

The Nazim was informed that a plot of 100 sq yard would be given to an allottee for Rs 46,000 in easy instalments, 200 sq yards plot for Rs 92,000 and 400 sq yard plot for Rs 1.84 lakh.

Naimatullah Khan directed that those allottees who were seeking refund of their money be given back the amount without causing any inconvenience to them.

He personally handed over the cheques to some of the allottees who preferred surrendering their plots.—APP