0
HYDERABAD May 31: Declaring Hyderabad district calamity hit area, the Hyderabad District Council here on Friday called for exemption in the recovery of land tax and abiyana (water tax).
The resolution in this regard ad been moved quite earlier. However, as per procedure of the house, it was first sent to revenue department for comments.
The department’s comments-cum-report was received on Friday after which the resolution was adopted without debate by members.
By consent the members reserved debate on the report before the session adjourned sine die for, according to them, a full working day was needed to discuss the report threadbare.
An open debate on the half yearly reports of the district Nazim and DCO was to be held but following an unpleasant incident it was postponed.
As debate began, Jeeyand Soomro came in front of the convener and put off his shirt and cap as a mark of protest against non- supply of water to Tando Wali Mohammad, Miyani Road, Khai Road, Shahdadpuri Mohallah of UC-4 for the last two months.
The convener immediately suspended proceedings for 15 minutes and then refused to preside over the session on account of the unparliamentary way of protest.
The members however managed to persuade him by offering apology, asking him to resume proceedings.
Soomro then apologized to the members and convener for getting emotional in the wake of pressure of people of his area, who were criticising him for not ensuring water supply.
The council members criticized Soomro for his uncalled for attitude but supported his demand of water supply.
The convener blamed bureaucracy for making attempts to sabotage the newly introduced devolution system of Musharraf government.
He said that non-allocation of funds for union councils was a part of a conspiracy by bureaucracy to create gulf between masses and their representatives.
The house adopted the resolution of Miran Mohammad Shah, who demanded for year 2001-2002 the rabi crop in Hyderabad district should be exempted from land and water tax and the district should be declared a calamity-hit area.
REVENUE REPORT: Quoting deputy district officer, revenue, the EDO pointed out that the Dehs of Narejani, Bachki and Chachar Detha were facing shortage of water.
He said nobody from these Dehs had applied for remission. “Had anybody applied that would have been considered and there was a provision of tubewell rebate the growers can claim,” he added.
RESOLUTIONS: The house passed another joint resolution of Dr Aziz Gaddi and Babu Ramzan Arain, calling for share of octroi and district tax for UCs as per clause 109(4) of Sindh Local Government Ordinance.
In another resolution moved by Rana Mehmood Ali Khan, the council called for a ban on the use of polythene shopping bags and sought report form the DCO about the measures taken to curb their use.
The house also passed the resolution of Yusuf Qureshi who demanded withdrawal of increased tariff of gas and dissolution of the vigilance committees which harassed people in the name of commercial charges and defective meters.
