Trojan horse?

The government of Punjab announced a mega housing scheme in Mandi Bahauddin in 1989 for people with low income. The Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency Jhelum implemented the Government Housing Scheme. It acquired land, did plot allotting, constructed streets and built water tank for water supply. Electric poles were installed for power supply. People with low income purchased plots through auction. Over a period of time all plots were purchased. Thereafter no further development was done by the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency. Electricity and water supply was not made functional. Due to neglect and lack of maintenance streets broke and dismantled. Now the colony site gives deserted look and is turned into a grazing ground for cattle.

The owners of plots complained that the government had deceived them in the name of the low-cost housing scheme. Their investment on purchasing plots has gone down the drain. They said they had visited the agency’s office at Jhelum many times and requested the authorities to arrange water and electricity supply in the colony, raise its boundary wall and complete development work of the scheme but all in vain. They have appealed to the Punjab government for taking notice of the negligence of the PH and TPA Jhelum and direct this agency to complete development work of the housing scheme so that the construction of houses can be started by plot owners.

Sher Muhammad Gondal

Mandi Bahauddin