25 October 2004	Monday	10 Ramazan 1425

SARGODHA, Oct 24: Irrigation chief engineer Usman Akram transferred SDO Chaudhry Abdul Sattar to Bhakkar and ordered against him a departmental inquiry into corruption allegation.

The action was taken on a complaint submitted to the Sargodha region's anti-corruption establishment additional director by Muhammad Rasheed, former employee of XEN offices, Lower Jhelum Canal, Kirana division.

The complainant alleged that the SDO and a sub-engineer with the help of XEN Canal, Kirana division, had embezzled Rs1.8 million under the heads of earth filling and bamboo installation payment along the canal bank. He claimed that work had already been done from Stone 0 to 50 of Chokera Minor and Stone 29 to 37 with the help of cranes, but the officials extorted a huge amount through fake bills.

He further alleged that they had also misappropriated around Rs8 million on the pretext of earth filling of Huda section in Malkana and Wasoowala rajbah and necessary repair/renovation of Asianwala rest house.

The officials, he claimed, had also withdrawn a huge amount under the heads of repair/renovation of the XEN residence and the rest, but the two buildings were only whitewashed.

They had also replaced the new engine of official vehicle (SGF-9845) with the old one, he further alleged.

PLOTS GIVEN: Punjab Irrigation Minister Chaudhry Aamer Sultan Cheema on Sunday awarded proprietary rights certificates of 145 five-marla plots to the homeless people in Luqman Union Council at Chak 22/24 SB, some 30km from here.

Speaking at the occasion, he said the Punjab government was determined to provide all civic amenities to inhabitants of villages to bring them at par with urban areas.

He said a grant of Rs7 million would be utilized in the union council for drainage and brick pavement. He promised to provide gas to his constituency.

The minister said in the past one plot was allotted to many individuals as a result disputes broke out at the time of construction. Now the government had evolved a foolproof transfer system and certificate holders could get confirmation from the revenue record.

Earlier, district Naib Nazim Chaudhry Hamid Saleem Warriach appreciated the award of proprietary rights to the poor and needy people, adding that General Pervez Musharraf had planned to provide shelter to all citizens of Pakistan.