‘Jewel of the nullah’: With change in layout plan, golden plots lose their lustre

Plot locations, green area size reduced; CDA chairman promises investigation.


Danish Hussain April 06, 2013
In the original layout plan, 60 per cent of the total area of Park Enclave was reserved for natural landscaping and allied facilities, but in the revised layout plan, this has come crashing down to 28 per cent. PHOTO: FILE.

ISLAMABAD:


After delaying development work on the much-hyped ‘jewel of the city’, the civic agency has allegedly altered the location and size of plots, rubbing salt in the wounds of the investors.


On one hand, the Capital Development Authority has virtually failed to develop Park Enclave, on the other it continues to add to the woes of those who invested their hard-earned money in the costliest housing scheme.

The city managers have altered the original layout of the housing scheme by withdrawing some of the promised facilities and introducing drastic changes in terms of the number and layout of plots.

Besides carving out some 53 new 1,000 square yards plots at prime locations after shifting several 500 sq. yd plots outside the original layout area and across a 60-foot wide seasonal stream, the authority has also cut the proposed total green area in half.

In the original layout plan, 60 per cent of the total area of Park Enclave was reserved for natural landscaping and allied facilities, but in the revised layout plan, this has come crashing down to 28 per cent.

In the original plan, which was widely publicised in the print and electronic media to lure potential investors, all the plots were of equal size of 500 square yards with none placed along the seasonal drain or on areas with uneven terrain.

But, after making down payments and at least two instalments for their respective plots, it dawned upon the investors that the layout is not the same as the one they had initially seen.

“Plot prices were based on the layout plan, which was attractive enough to justify a Rs12 million price tag. The CDA after collection of down payments and instalments from the allottees has changed the layout to please politicians and generate more money,” said Dr Jamil Chaudhry, an expat who purchased a plot in the Park Enclave.

He said a number of features initially offered have disappeared from the current layout plan. He demanded that the CDA should restore the original plan along with all features and “if CDA is unable to provide all facilities and features, especially 60 per cent green area, they should scale down the prices of plots by at least by 25 per cent”.

CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz said he does not have exact details related to revised layout plan. “I am sure it was not altered during my tenure as chairman. If it was done earlier, then I can’t say anything about it,” Shahbaz said.

However, he assured that he would ask the relevant officials to arrange a presentation on the issue and if any misdeed on the part of the CDA was found, it would be rectified. “We prioritised this project and it will be developed at fast pace to restore the confidence of the general public and overseas Pakistanis,” Shahbaz added

Park Enclave was formally launched in July 2011 and the expected date of completion is December 2013.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2013. 

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