KARACHI, Sept 29: The Sindh government on Wednesday 'set aside' the City Nazim's recent notification whereby two defunct development authorities - MDA and LDA - were devolved to the city district government Karachi, it was reliably learnt.

Sources in the Sindh local government department told Dawn that the decision to set aside the City Nazim's notification of Sept 21 had been taken by the provincial government in pursuance of Section 182, Sub-Section 6 (read with Section 52) of Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001.

The move has, however, given birth to a new controversy between Sindh and City governments and it might further restrain relations between the two governments which are already confronting each other over a number of issues, sources opined, fearing that if such a situation persists for a long time, it may lead to further chaos and confusion after the next local government elections which are likely to be held in the mid of next year.

The City Nazim's order/notification (dated Sept 21, 2004) has been stayed by the Sindh government till a final decision is taken by the provincial government, sources added.

It may be pointed out that with the issuance of a notification (No Nazim/City/Secy/6279)/2004) by the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Sept 21, both the defunct Malir Development Authority and the Lyari Development Authority had ceased to enjoy their autonomous status and the staff of both the organizations was merged with the CDGK on the same pattern on which Karachi Development Authority was devolved.

The CDGK's notification had stated inter-alia: "In accordance with the Sindh Local Government Ordinance-2001 and the Sindh Development Authorities Laws (Repeal) Ordnance-2002, and in pursuance of notification No. SO (Dev) HTP/101-30/2001 (B) dated 27th June 2002, issued by the government of Sindh, it is essential to devolve the defunct Malir Development Authority and defunct Lyari Development Authority within City District Government Karachi on the same pattern on which Karachi Development Authority has been devolved."

With the issuance of the notification, LDA and MDA had ceased to exist and the functions pertaining to land and revenue, works and services, secretarial/administration, master planning, finances and accounts were devolved to the relevant departments of the CDGK. All other functions being performed by these organizations were also devolved to relevant offices of the CDGK.

Besides, the staff performing these functions in the above mentioned projects was to be transferred to the respective group of offices with immediate effect, says the notification.

However, the staff which was performing duties in Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project, was allowed to continue their duties till further orders. In the wake of Nazim's notification, ad hoc arrangements specified earlier through different CDGK notifications (such as declaring MDA and LDA as projects, their heads as project directors, setting up steering committees for managing affairs of both the projects) also stood withdrawn.