ISLAMABAD, June 3: The ill-planned development works being carried out for the shrine of Bari Imam, over the years, have created problems for the devotees besides changing the landscape of the area.

The historical village of Noorpur Shahan Bari Imam was acquired by the Capital Development Authority under the land acquisition awards 1961, 1964 and 1967 with the promise that the affected people would be rehabilitated in different sectors of Islamabad and in Sindh and Punjab in lieu of their agricultural lands.

Some 90 per cent of the residents of Noorpur Shahan were not given alternative plots in different sectors of the capital.

Citing examples of the actions which had altered the landscape, members of the Noorpur Shahan Action Committee told Dawn that the ancient graveyards in the area surrounding the shrine were bulldozed by the authorities in league with the land mafia. Besides, the historical mosque and Imambargah were razed to the ground, a member of the committee said.

According to the locals, a 300-year-old water reservoir, which was a source of attraction for the devotees fell prey to the neglect of authorities. The water reservoir was filled with sand.

The authorities narrowed the natural river water crossing close to the shrine. As a result of bad planning water entered the shrine in 1988 and caused damage to its structure, the locals said.

Talking about the authorities being in league with vested interests, committee members said auctioning of Noorpur Shahan busstand was stopped by violating the jurisdiction of the development committee which caused loss of around Rs20 million to the CDA.

Encroachers were encouraged to cover the space and a decision was taken to protect encroachers on the CDA land, the committee members claimed.