ISLAMABAD: Abdul Shah spent his lifetime earnings and savings to purchase a plot in I-12 and got it transferred in his name. But now his plot is nowhere because of the negligence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

He is among around 600 people whose plots were deleted by the CDA while revising the layout plan of the sector last year. But CDA after revising the layout plan had not allotted them alternative plots.

Officers of the Planning Wing, which had revised the plan, said the plan was revised because of a nullah and some uneven land. They, however, said in the revised layout plan, new similar numbers of plots had been re-planned to accommodate the owners. They said it was the responsibility of the land directorate to allot the people alternative plots. But the land directorate is yet to take any step to rectify the situation.

Their plots were deleted during revision of I-12 layout plan last year

“I have spent all my life savings to purchase the four-marla plot. I paid some extra amount because I was allotted a corner plot. I am not sure when my plot will be reallocated,” Abdul Shah said, adding these days he also needed money because of the growing expenditures under the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But the CDA has yet to intimate me when it would reallocate me the plot of the same worth and value so that I can sell it,” he said.

Some of the people said they should be allotted alternative plots of the same value and in the same sub-sector, which CDA had re-planned while revising the layout plan.

“The allottees of the corner, three side corner and of double roads locations should be given new plots of the same worth,” said an allottee.

Besides I-12, many allottees of I-14 are also facing problems as in many cases CDA allotted them plots that had already been allotted (double allotment) while in many cases their plots were deleted during the re-planning of the sector.

“Over 500 allottees of I-12 and I-14 are suffering as their plots are nowhere in the layout plan. It is CDA’s fault not of the people. But soon we will address this issue,” said an official of the CDA.

The civic authority’s spokesperson, Mazhar Hussain, said CDA was aware of the issue and soon people will be allotted new plots.

He said CDA will allot plots to people through balloting in a transparent manner.

“We have already prepared lists of deleted and double allotment cases in I-12 and I-14 and soon through balloting we will give new due plots to people,” he said and added that earlier the balloting was to be held in March but because of the pandemic it was delayed.

I-14 is a developed sector where people have constructed houses but still lacked proper footpaths, playgrounds and parks. I-12 was launched in 2008. However, on Thursday CDA finally floated tenders to start development work in the sector with construction of major roads in the first phase.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2020