22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

HYDERABAD, Jan 21: City Taluka Nazim Haji Moinuddin Sheikh has appealed to the prime minister to help clear the liabilities of the taluka municipal administration amounting to Rs11.9 million.

Speaking at a news conference in his office here on Wednesday, he said that due to budget deficit, the TMA could not pay salary to its employees for the last six months.

He said that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali should also ensure that Rs500 million development grant, announced by then Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro, was immediately released.

He said that 15 per cent increase had been made in the salaries of government employees but the TMA share in lieu of octroi tax had not been increased.

He said that taxes and rent of TMA properties were the only two sources of income through which its administration made routine expenditures of the taluka council and carried out development works.

The Nazim alleged that Wasa SDO Mateen had cheated the TMA during the digging of 25 manholes. He explained that the manholes were to be dug at a cost of Rs500,000 to overcome perennial problem of accumulation of drain water at Hyder Chowk and Sarfaraz Charhi. On the assurance of the SDO that 80 per cent of the manholes had been connected with the drainage line, the TMA constructed the Sarfraz Charhi Road and was preparing for construction of Hyder Chowk but drain water again started accumulating at the two places.

He said that an investigation by another SDO revealed that the manholes had not been connected with the drainage system, and demanded that Mr Mateen should be suspended.

He further said that same was the case with Qadamgah Maula Ali area. He said that Rs135,000 would be spent on desilting of the manholes in 45 days. He said that the Mustafa ground would be converted into a mini sports complex at a cost of Rs40 million to be provided by the federal government.

He said that an anti-encroachment campaign would soon be launched which would initially include the areas between St. Marry School roundabout and Kohinoor Chowk.

UPLIFT SCHEMES: HyderabadDistrict Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has said that police was part and parcel of the district government. He was speaking at a function organized at the police headquarters here the other day in connection with some development schemes carried out by the district government. Mr Rafiquzzaman assured the district police officer (operations) of early completion of roads in the district police headquarters area.