LAHORE: The Punjab government says the three one-window camps set up for awarding compensation to those affected by the Orange Line project are of “temporary nature” and people must rush for receiving payment.

“The one-window camps set up at GCU ground near Old Anarkali, UET (GT Road) and P&D building near Thokar Niaz Beg are of temporary nature. Therefore, the affectees, whose land is being acquired for the project, should visit the aforementioned sites immediately,” a statement issued by an LDA spokesman said on Saturday.

He said the camps would remain open on Sunday (today).

Meanwhile, the government claims it has paid Rs3 billion of the total allocated amount of Rs20 billion to the affected people.

“Through one-window operation, we have so far paid Rs3 billion to as many as 800 people whose property has been acquired for the project partially or completely,” the LDA spokesman quoted the chief minister’s adviser Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan as having said at a press conference here on Saturday.

Mr Hassaan further claimed that people were being issued the payment/compensation vouchers on the very first day of submitting their property documents. And after submitting vouchers to the designated bank branches, they are being paid money within 24 hours, he added.

He said the families living in one room at Benagli and Maharaja buildings for the last 50 or 60 years without any property ownership rights were being paid Rs1 million per room. Similarly, the residents of Jain Mandir and some other areas were being paid Rs2.5 million per marla (residential) and Rs3.5 million per marla (commercial), he said.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2016

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