June 13, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1423

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MANSEHRA, June 12: The road construction machinery worth more than Rs 150 million belonging to the defunct Rural Development Department (RDD), Mansehra is rusting in the premises of the office of the district council Mansehra.

The machinery includes seven road rollers, five chain bulldozers and two motor graders. According to sources, the machinery, was handed over to the RDD Mansehra by the provincial government in 1985 and was later shifted to the RDD Mansehra which was later disbanded and is now succeeded by the Tehsil Municipal Administration. The machinery had been mostly misused by the defunct RDD and still a huge amount of rent for its use is outstanding against a number of private firms, the sources added.

It is also learnt that the officials of the former RDD had been showing breakdown of the most of machinery in the papers but actually it remained in the use of different contractors free of rent. The sources said the machinery was brought to the premises of the district council Mansehra in June 2000 in working condition but later no one took care of its safety and maintenance nor it was utilized for the public works.

At present, this heavy machinery, which according to an official of the TMA, is worth more than Rs 150 million is rusting and all its costly parts have been removed. It is also learnt that the provincial government had ordered the auction of machinery in August 2001 but it could not take place for the reasons unknown.