ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The Prime Minister Secretariat has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately start development work in sectors E-12 and D-12 after removing all impediments, a letter issued from the secretariat revealed.

Responding to an application filed by a person named Irfan Mehmood, a resident of G-11/2 sector, the PM Secretariat expressed concern over the 16-year long delay in the development of the sectors.

The secretariat was informed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had already given a 'go ahead' to the CDA regarding provision of compensation to the villagers and the sectors' development.

When contacted, an official of the CDA told Dawn that the fate of sectors D-12 and E-12 would be decided by the federal cabinet as the authority had so far failed to resolve the issue.

The official said the CDA had sent a summary to the federal cabinet for seeking approval to restart development work in the sectors. He said landholders of Siri Saral, Pind Sangrial, Dhraik Mori, Bekar Akoawar and Bekar Fateh Baksh, where the sectors were being developed, had already received compensation and alternative land, but they were demanding more land and money.

Meanwhile another official in the CDA told Dawn that the authority could give extra benefit to the landholders to settle the sectors' development dispute. However, the former chairman of the authority, Mir Laiq Shah, had announced a number of times that there was no provision in the CDA's land disposal policy to provide extra benefit to landowners.

The official said the issue of land compensation was dealt by the CDA and there was no need to get government permission in this regard. The villagers have demanded double benefit against their land acquired by the CDA. Under double benefit, the villagers demanded 150 more plots as compensation only in D-12.

Earlier, this demand of the villagers was turned down by the CDA but now the authority is reportedly considering to meet the demand to settle the issue so that development of sector D-12 could be started.

He said PC-I of the project of D-12 amounting to Rs788 million was approved by the CDA board in 1988 but due to several reasons the project could not be implemented and its estimated cost escalated to Rs3.2 billion.

However, recently the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) has slashed down its cost to Rs2 billion. The government has allocated Rs120 million for the development of the sector in the current fiscal year.

According to PC-I of the project, some 3,445 residential plots would be carved out, including 725 plots for construction of flats. Some 870 plots will be auctioned and the money to be generated through the auction will be utilized for the development of the sector. Another CDA official was of the view that the revised cost was not sufficient to meet the development expenditure.