12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 11: The Sindh Reserve Police have illegally occupied about four acres of military land and a plot reserved for park in Hyderabad. The total value of the land is estimated around Rs40 million.

This matter was raised before the Sindh governor by 5-Corps Headquarters, suggesting regular lease of the land by paying its market value from 1992. Sources told this reporter on Wednesday that the matter had been entrusted to the DCO to process it in collaboration with the Sindh Revenue Board.

They said the SRP had encroached upon three acres by constructing a walled parade ground in 1992. Later on the Sindh police also started construction on one acre plot reserved for a park.

When the matter was brought to the knowledge of DIG Police Hyderabad range in 1992 and again in 1999, the cantonment board was informed that the matter was under consideration of the higher authorities which had failed so far to take any decision, the sources said.

In 2002 the army authorities offered two options to the police to settle the dispute which included suggestion to move to a vacant building of the irrigation department in the civil lines or pay the compensation of the land.

In 2003 the irrigation department informed the authority concerned that the vacant building in the civil lines area was being used as offices of the department.