FAISA LABAD: Several `dubious` private housing colonies have collected millions of rupees from people allegedly under the nose of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) in the last few months.

The FDA, buyers allege, first allows these schemes to thrive and then all of a sudden declare them illegal which means trouble for the investors. The authority has now asked people to avoid purchasing plots in such colonies as these are not approved by it.

It has advertised a notice in newspapers declaring 41 colonies illegal and 48 `yet to be approved`. The owners of unapproved schemes are advertising the plots and have collected millions by selling forms and land.

Sources said the FDA officials had turned a blind eye to the mushroom growth of the private housing colonies which had collected millions of rupees from prospective buyers and now they had informed people about their status.Mohammad Saleem