22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 21: In the absence of an approved layout plan, the conditions at the New Sabzi Mandi on the Super Highway are deteriorating and creating complicated problems of illegal encroachments.

Expressing concern over mismanagement of the Mandi affairs, its stake-holders, in their memorandum sent to the authorities and the city government, have demanded early approval of its layout plan to save the new Sabzi Mandi from becoming a total mess.

The Malir Fresh Fruit Merchants and Growers' Association, in its communication to the city government, has recalled its earlier correspondence in October last and relevant letters to the chief controller of Buildings and to Sindh chief secretary, but so far no progress has been made, which is causing concern and unrest among its legal allottees.

Association President Muhammad Javed said that while the genuine traders were waiting for the approved of the plan to build their shops, the encroachers, using political and other clouts, were defacing the project, which was financed by the Asian Development Bank.

Talking to Dawn, he lamented that even after orders of inquiry from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, issued last month, there was neither improvement in Mandi's management, nor any progress had been made to enforce Chief Minister Sardar Ali Muhammad Mahar's orders for implementing the provision of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance-2001 pertaining to transfer of the Mandi's management to the city government, so that its affairs could be streamlined.

He said that the association had also drawn attention of the authorities towards inordinate delay of over 43 months in implementation of the ombudsman's report for providing relief to the stake-holders of the Mandi.

According to the ombudsman report, the number of shops shown in the layout plan, based on the survey conducted by the Rangers and army, was 4,348, but in the plan submitted to the Gadap Town, places reserved for parking areas, footpaths and even the passages were shown as already allotted plots, taking the number of shops and sheds, in the new plan submitted to the city government for approval, the 12th plan so far, to more than 6,000.

He said that KBCA chief Brig A S Nasir has also recommended to Sindh chief secretary to advise the EDO (MPGO) of the city government to finalize the layout plan in compliance with the decisions of the provincial ombudsman.

Pointing out contradiction in implementation of the SLGO-2001, Mr Javed said that except the New Sabzi Mandi, all other vegetable and fruit markets in the province were under the control of the local governments, as required under the ordinance.

Besides encroachments, being done in connivance with market committee officials, acute sanitation problem, scarcity of water and power theft were adversely affecting the ADB-funded project.