KARACHI: Violations of ombudsman's order criticized - Sabzimandi affairs
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 4: The Malir Fresh Fruits Merchants Association has drawn attention of the concerned authorities to the predicament of the stakeholders of the New Sabzimandi
, on Super Highway, where illegal construction on parking areas has created a mess.
"While the genuine traders are waiting for an approved plan to build their shops, encroachers, using political and other clouts, are defacing the project financed by the Asian Development Bank," the association maintained.
In a communication to the concerned authorities, copies of which have been sent to city nazim, chief secretary, KBCA and the National Accountability Bureau, the association's President, Muhammad Javaid, pointed out that in the absence of an approved layout plan, the services and conditions at the New Sabzimandi were deteriorating and creating complicated problems of encroachments.
He has also referred to the association's correspondence with the authorities in October last, and also to a letter to this effect sent to the chief controller of buildings and city nazim, and deplored the authorities' failure in mitigating the problems which, he said, was cause of concern among legal alights.
Describing the recent construction of 20 shops by the Market Committee Karachi as 'a flagrant violation of the Sindh ombudsman's decision', he mentioned excerpts from the report of a departmental inquiry carried out last year.
The report said: "the record of the Market Committee Karachi shows that a total of 214 plots were allotted to various dealers, growers and newcomers during the tenure of Mr Abdul Jabbar Abbasi as administrator and Mr Lal Bux Baloch as secretary of the MCK.
Out of the 214 plots, 146 had been allotted to those whose eligibility was not covered either under the government's policy, or the decision of the scrutiny committee/ministerial committee/ombudsman orders.
''Apart from these allotments, two individuals had also been allotted three plots without considering their eligibility, thus the administrator and secretary had made the MCK to suffer huge losses.''
The association had, with its plea, attached another report indicating that 30 employments had been made without the requisite budgetary approval and relaxation in ban, whereas 17 promotions had been in similar manner.
The MCK was found to have executed various development scheme, costing Rs23.51 million, without technical, administrative, and financial approval from the competent authority.
The inquiry report had recommended disciplinary action against the officials responsible for the violations, said Mr Javaid, adding that the committee had also put the 20 illegally raised shops at the Sabzimandi to auction. He pointed out that the KBCA had already issued notices for the shops' demolition.
Urging the authorities to order an inquiry into the violations by the MCK, the association has called for a detailed inquiry into the affairs and sought an order for the removal of all encroachments.
It has also demanded that the control of Sabzimandi be given to the city government as per the provisions of the SLGO. It has pointed out that except for the New Sabzimandi, all vegetable and fruit markets in the province were under the control of the respective local governments.
Mr Javaid said that the association had also drawn attention of the authorities to the inordinate delay of over 50 months in the implementation of the ombudsman's report, and demanded that relief be provided to the stakeholders of the Sabzimandi.
In the reference made in the ombudsman decision, the number of shops shown in the layout plan was based on the survey report of the Rangers and army. The number was put at 4,348 but in the plan submitted to the Gadap Town, the open places meant for parking, footpaths, etc., were shown as 'plots already allotted'.
In the new plan submitted to the city government for approval, more than 6,000 shops and sheds were shown. The woes of the Sabzimandi stakeholders were multiplied due to non-availability of tap water and power, the association pointed out.
