PESHAWAR, Oct 2: Military authorities have sought residential plots on concessional rates in Regi model town scheme here in lieu of providing land to the provincial government for the construction of an approach road to the housing project, sources said.

“The provincial government can not meet this unrealistic demand of the army,” said a senior official, adding that the issue would be disposed off by the NWFP chief minister and the corps commander, Peshawar.

The government requires nearly 70 acres of land for the construction of 2.7-kilometre approach road to the mega housing project near the provincial capital. A portion of the approach road will pass through the Katcha Garhi firing range.

Officials of the City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD), the executing agency, said that in response to the provincial government’s request, the corps headquarters sought 10 per cent plots for army personnel at low rates in the scheme, besides paying the market price amounting to Rs2.24 billion for the land acquired for the approach road. In addition, the army would also retain proprietary rights of the proposed road, informed an official.

The construction of the approach road from Hayatabad township to Regi town through the military land would reduce the distance by 2.7 kilometres. An alternate route to the housing scheme would result in dislocation of around 500 families living in the area.

A senior government official said: “The provincial government is not ready for such a high cost deal with the tough conditions as the CDMD has no additional land to accommodate armymen in the township as the allotment of plots in the township had been completed.”

The housing scheme sprawling over 4,616 acres is being developed near Nasir Bagh at an estimated cost of over Rs7.164 billion. Around 20,000 plots have been allotted to 42 cooperative housing societies. Some 1,230 plots of various sizes had already been allotted to the Pakistan Air Force.

According to the sources, the CDMD had forwarded a summary to Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, informing him that the executing agency was unable to fulfil the conditions set by the military authorities.

Meanwhile, the CDMD had also sought interference from the Governor’s Fata Secretariat and political agent of Khyber Agency to resolve the dispute of land acquisition for the project with the local tribesmen.   Officials said that work in zones 2 and 5 of the town had been stopped due to non-payment of compensation to the local tribes which affected the pace of work despite the fact that funds were available with the CDMD.

Despite repeated contacts, the ISPR officials did not offer comments on handing over the military land for the approach road to the housing scheme.