MANSEHRA, Dec 30: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) had no plan to abandon the New Balakot City scheme, said project director Ibrar Ismail here on Sunday.
“The project will be completed in 2014 instead of its early estimated date of 2012 as the landowners despite receiving payments and getting plots are creating hurdles in smooth execution of the scheme,” he told journalists.
He made it clear that Erra had no plan to scrap the housing project, meant for settlement of Balakot people affected by the Oct 8, 2005 earthquake.
Mr Ismail said that Erra chairman had never issued any statement regarding abandoning the mega housing project. Development work was in progress in those sectors where land was in possession of Erra, he added. “The landowners are not vacating the land and causing delay in completion of the project despite getting plots and receiving double amount than the market value of their lands,” alleged Mr Ismail.
He said that estimated cost of the project rose from Rs12 billion because of delay in its timely completion but Erra chalked out a plan to maintain the original cost. “For this the width of roads, parking lots and gardens was squeezed. After doing this, the estimated cost of the project remained the same,” he said.
The project director said that a reconciliatory committee, constituted by Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to settle the land issue, increased the number of plots for landowners in the hosing project to 700 from 300 but despite that they didn’t vacate the entire area.
He said that 3,900 plots would be allotted to the quake-hit people of Balakot and 700 to landowners in the housing project. So far only 1,600 plots were ready for allotment, he added.
Mr Ismail said that he had met with Hazara Commissioner Khalid Khan Umerzai the other day and apprised him of the situation. “He assured me of his full support in resolving the land issue and other problems,” he added.
“I am hopeful that the commissioner would address the issue and allotment of the plots can be possible before the end of current fiscal year,” the project director said.