Residents of West Merul in the city yesterday demanded implementation of the Hatirjheel project according to its original plan to save numerous residential quarters and business establishments from destruction. At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday under the banner of 'Committee to protect houses and business organisations from Hatirjheel project acquisition' they said they have been residing in the area for around three decades. Welcoming the government initiative to implement the project, the residents said the original plan of constructing a road from Gulshan Shooting Club to Pragati Sarani at East Badda was appropriate. Implementing the project according to that plan does not cause any harm to the residents of West Merul, they added. "But it is a matter of sorrow that the previous plan has been changed for the interest of few influential people of the area,' said committee Convener Mahmud Abdul Malik. He said the proposed straight road has been curved at its east end encompassing many houses and business establishments of West Merul. If this changed plan is implemented it will destroy properties worth Tk 200 crore leaving their families under the open sky, he added. "Although we lodged our complaints with the secretaries of the ministries of communication, establishment and local government, we are yet to receive any positive feedback,' said Moniruzzaman Monir, a member of the committee. The speakers said if the road is built by the southern part of the national grid-Titas gas line, then more than one hundred of Rajuk-planned residences and business establishments on around two acres of land will be saved. "So, we urge the president, the chief adviser and army chief to take necessary steps to save us and our property," they said.