KARACHI: Land sought by DHA not yet allotted, PA told
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, June 14: The Sindh Assembly was on Tuesday informed that the survey for 12,000 acres of land being sought by Defence Housing Authority along the Superhighway in Malir district was in progress, but neither the price had been decided nor had the land been allotted so far.
Senior Minister for Finance Syed Sardar Ahmad provided this information to the house while responding a supplementary question asked by a PPP member, Ms Nasreen Chandio during question hour.
Ms Chandio had sought details about allotment of the revenue department’s land to the DHA from July 2000 to June 2004 and wanted to know whether payment against the land had been made.
Syed Sardar Ahmad, on behalf of the Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Rahim, told the house that the land utilization department of the provincial government with the approval of governor had agreed on Feb 13, 2001 to the allotment of reclaimed land on lease at a rate of Rs20 per square yard. The then deputy commissioner, Karachi (South), had been directed to get a joint survey of the reclaimed land conducted.
The minister said that since the exercise had not yet been finalized, the lease money had not been deposited. The EDO (Revenue) was being directed to complete the survey work at the earliest, he added.
The house was informed that no land across the Marina Club had been granted and DHA secretary had also submitted that the Authority had not occupied any revenue land on an island located opposite the club.
Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Irfanullah Khan Marwat, while responding to a question from Ms Humera Alvani, informed the house that the portfolio of Oil and Gas was under the purview of the federal government. Royalty pertaining to this field was being transferred from federal government to the finance department of the provincial government directly.
He said that coal fell under the purview of the provincial government and royalty on coal was being deposited under the provision of the Sindh Mining Concession rules 2002. The revenue receipt, i.e. royalty on coal, was being collected by his department and was deposited in the treasury, he added.
Giving the year-wise break-up, Mr Marwat stated that in the year 2001-2, the revenue receipt was Rs86.145 million and in 2002-o3 Rs86.145 million.
Replying to a question from Syed Ali Mardan Shah about khatedars (tillers) of Tappo Janhero Pat taluka, tehsil Umerkot, Syed Sardar Ahmad, on behalf of the chief minister, said that the area had turned into a desert due to shortage of irrigation water since 1998-99. This tappa, he added, was located in the tail-end and the system of water supply meant for it stood destroyed since then. As such, he said, cultivation in the area had remained dependent on rain water and resultant draught condition had made the life of khatedars of this area miserable. The minister said that it was now up to the government to get their agricultural loans waived.
