KARACHI, Feb 14: The fate of both the Landhi and Orangi cottage industries plan where thousands of unemployed youths were allotted plots some 12 years back is still hanging in the balance as the city government is yet to retrieve the land from land mafia.

The defunct KMC had launched the plan to provide small plots to unemployed youths so that they could earn their livelihood, besides promoting cottage industry.

Thousands of unemployed youths had applied for plots in both the projects and about 2,500 of them were allotted plots in Landhi and a similar number in Orangi, and the balloting was held under the auspices of Institute of Business Administration.

But all those allotted plots are running from pillar to the post to get possession of their plots which have been encroached upon and the city government’s officials concerned seem helpless in removing encroachments.

A delegation of the affected persons had met the former city nazim, Niamatullah Khan who had given an assurance to them in this regard, but so far, no action has been taken against encroachers.

Of late, the city government officials concerned have been informing the allotees that the CDGK will refund payments against the plots as the cottage industries’ land had been encroached upon.

“Isn’t it a joke that the CDGK’s officials instead of retrieving land from landgrabbers are telling us that they will refund payments,” an affected person remarked.

It also shows that they have succumbed to the pressure of land mafia,” he added.