Another blow to allottees : D-12 development work likely to face another delay

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Allottees waiting for possession of plots for last two decades
* Contractor says work in full swing in all sub-sectors except D-12/2 where some land is yet to be acquired
* CDA Member Engineering says authority is determined to give possession in June

ISLAMABAD: The development work of sector D-12 is likely to face another delay due to recent rains and some land acquisition issues, giving another blow to the allottees yearning to have their own shelter in the federal capital for last two decades.

The sector was opened in 1988 and the development work was started in 2003 but it was suspended following a clash between Islamabad police and the residents, also resulting some casualties.

The work was re-launched in January this year when Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan had assured that the possession of plots would be given by June this year, which now seems unlikely.

The contract was awarded to M/s Mohammed Ayub & Brothers against Rs 520 million, which was later escalated to Rs 900 million, what a CDA official said was done owing to excessive price hike of steel, construction material and labour cost.

Mir Ahmed, the contractor told this news agency that the work was in full swing in all sub-sectors except D-12/2 where some land was yet to be acquired and the rains have turned the land into mud, hampering the construction work.

Moreover, he said the CDA could not get possession of some pockets of land in sector D-12/2 and D-12/3 where the residents were resisting the contractor to do construction work.

Ahmed said work on sewerage, drainage was about to complete while the road work had also reached to the base level, adding that work on service roads of East and South would be started after the Authority gets possession of the land.

The contractor also complained of the delayed payments by the CDA, which he said, slowed down the pace of work.

He said the possession of plots in three sub sectors was possible as per deadline of June 30, while it would take some more time to hand over plots in sector D-12/2.

CDA Member Engineering Tahir Shamshad said the Authority was determined to give possession of two sub-sectors in June.

He admitted that some impediments are yet to be removed in two sub-sectors that may put off the work for another three months.

He said the authority was striving to seek amicable solution to the compensation issue that is time-taking process as some of the occupants are demanding the compensation more that the package announced by the civic body. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg11_2