GUJRAT: Expressing fears that a precious plot meant for a school in Model Town will fall into the hands of land grabbers, the locals have called upon the chief minister and the district government to transfer land to the district education department so that school can be built on the land lying vacant since 1980.

They demand the CM either waive off the price of the plot that the education department has to pay to the housing department or arrange Rs21 million for the transfer.

The 11.9 kanal land adjacent to the main park of Model Town along Bhimbher Road was earmarked by the provincial housing department for a school in 1980; however, it has been lying unutilised since then.

Since the Model Town, a posh residential locality of Gujrat city, has not much vacant land left, the locals have expressed apprehensions that the land grabbers would occupy the school land.

Locals seek 11.9 kanal’s transfer to education dept

A major hurdle to the transfer of the plot to the education department has been the housing department that has been demanding the price of the plot, assessed by the district housing committee, headed by the then DCO in 2010.

A delegation of the Model Town Welfare Association, led by the its chairman Latif Mirza and Gujrat District Bar Association President Chaudhry Habibullah, called on the DCO a few days ago, demanding the waiver of the price by the district government. An application has also been sent to the chief minister, seeking his help.

The DCO had sought a detailed report from all the departments concerned, including the revenue, education and housing departments, as the district government did have some other options to transfer the plot to the education department prior to arranging funds for purchasing it.

They said the local administration would seek funds from the provincial government to make the payment to the housing department and after a formal letter of request to the higher authorities, the local revenue department would be asked to transfer the ownership with a guarantee by the local government of adjusting the payment.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015