ISLAMABAD, March 17: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board has decided to provide additional plots to the villagers of Sri Saral and Pind Sangrial in an underdeveloped sector I-14, a source told Dawn on Wednesday.

The source said the CDA board had also agreed to pay to the affected villagers if they did not want to get plot in the sector. On the other hand, the villagers have rejected the offer of the CDA regarding provision of plots in sector I-14, the source added.

The villagers had demanded of the CDA to provide them double benefit if, they added, "the latter wanted to acquire their land for sector D-12. Under the double benefit, the villagers had demanded some 150 more plots in sector D-12 as compensation, he said.

The source said the villagers had demanded of the CDA to provide plots in the same sector, as the value of plots in this sector was quite higher than the cost of plots in sector I-14.

The source said due to the decision taken by the CDA board and the stand taken by the villagers, the issue of development of sector D-12 remain in doldrums. "Apparently, there is no sign of beginning of development work in D-12 in near future," the source said.

The development of sector D-12 is being executed jointly by the CDA and Pakistan Housing Foundation (PHF). The CDA has allocated Rs106 million for the development of the new sector. Sector D-12 is being developed to provide rehabilitation facility to the government employees and land affected natives of Islamabad.

The plan for establishing the sector was made some eight years ago but due to some disputes with the locals, the plan could not be implemented, an official of the CDA said. The CDA, he said, could earn billions of rupees by selling plots in the sector.

CDA BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED: Another serving brigadier has been appointed member of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board, a source in the CDA told Dawn on Wednesday. Brig Nusratullah has taken over as member planning on Wednesday and his predecessor Maqbool Elahi has been sent to the surplus pool.