KARACHI, June 28: Despite a lapse of more than two years, a master for the new fruit and vegetable market — New Sabzimandi — on Super Highway could not be approved as directed by the Supreme Court, as well as the Sindh ombudsman and City Nazim, as yet.
The Sabzimandi authorities had been directed to get a master plan approved formally from the competent authority so that the market could be established in an organized way. However, the concerned officials have failed the comply with the directives which has not only been casing an inordinate delay in accomplishing the task, but also encouraging encroachers and land mafia to intensify their unlawful activities to serve the interests of certain corrupt political figures and bureaucrats.
As a considerably wide open space at the market has already been encroached upon, an official report indicates that the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), in coordination with the Inquiry and Anti-corruption Establishment (I&ACE), has launched an initiative to retrieve the encroached land and regularize the allotments.
Notices have reportedly been served on the officials responsible for the illegal allotment of 136 shops. They have been asked to appear before the investigating authorities and produce relevant documents in this regard.
The KBCA chief, Brig (r) A. S. Nasir, alongwith DIG Tariq Jameel, paid a visit to the New Sabzimandi on Saturday. Their visit was followed by a survey by police officials who apparently were collecting lists of the office-bearers of various concerned associations.
Regarding progress on the preparation of master plan, sources pointed out that at least three master plans, with different data, have been presented for approval but none of them matched up with ground realities.
Under the prescribed rules, Market Committee is supposed to safeguard the interests of New Sabzimandi and its stakeholders. However, it has not only failed to deliver so far, but its performance in handling the affairs has also proved absolutely dissatisfactory. As a result, the higher authorities have to intervene frequently.
Following publication of reports, in January this year, about rampant corruption in the affairs, the then provincial chief secretary, K. B. Rind, had constituted an inquiry committee, headed by Sarwar Khero, (now the ACS-Finance). Though, the committee’s findings were not made public, the inquiry led to the transfer of the case to the National Accountability Bureau.
The affected stakeholders later approached several members of the Sindh Assembly for some sort of relief and Abdullah Murad (MPA) raised the issue on the floor of the House whereas other legislators, members — Humera Alwani, Nasrullah Shaji and Hameedullah Khan — joined in and the relevant issues came up for a discussion. They put up questions about the number of shops, depriving genuine allottees of their shops’ possession, unplanned structures on allotted plots and the Rs22 million tender money which was unaccounted for.
The replies by Agriculture Minister Arif Jatoi had failed to satisfy the questioners as he lacked the information sought by the legislators. However, Mr Jatoi pledged constitution of a three-member inquiry committee with instructions to submit its report within the next three weeks.
Since then, there has been no word about the committee or its report. Even, nobody knows whether the first meeting of the committee was ever convened.
At present, the physical condition of the New Sabzimandi, spread over 100 acres, is pathetic due to pollution, insanitation, unorganized construction and many other factors.
It may be mentioned here that those have already been given possession of their plots had deposited more than Rs90 million on various accounts. The other allottees, over 30 per cent and selected from growers’ quota, have deposited a total of Rs117 million, are running from pillar to post for the possession of their plots.
