KARACHI: LDA told to ensure facilities in Hawkesbay
KARACHI, Oct 30: Sindh Minister for Local Government, Katchi Abadies and Spatial Development Mohammad Hussain has directed the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and other housing authorities to ensure provision of facilities of water, sewerage, roads, electricity and gas before handing over physical possession to allottees in residential schemes.
Speaking to LDA officials after a briefing at his office, he said it was necessary for the benefit of poor and low-income groups to set a deadline for construction of houses on allotted plots after physical possession.
This restriction will discourage investors, who purchase large number of plots and hold the same for a long time, just to increase their profit, he added.
Provincial minister said that provision of educational and medical facilities at any scheme before it is inhabited was also necessary and added that renowned NGOs should be encouraged to come forward.
He warned that corruption and misappropriation of funds would not be tolerated at any cost and development funds should be spent for uplift of infrastructure and provision of basic activities and not on the lavish lifestyle of officers.
The ministers also directed for allocating 10 per cent plots for low-income government employees and establishment of cottage industry in the residential schemes.
He further directed computerization all records of LDA regarding balloting, allotment and possession so as to ensure transparency and as such it was necessary to complete residential schemes at earliest.
Earlier, the director-general of LDA, Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, informed the minister that as many as 45,380 plots have been allotted in Hawkesbay, which include 29,462 by defunct KDA and 2,211 by LDA while 816 plots were allotted to the members of Karachi Press Club.
He said that the Hawksbay Scheme has an area of 11450 acres while Halkani Town Scheme 43 has an estimated area of 38467 acres.
The Director General said that LDA has planned 20,000 residential plots of different categories in Hawkesbay, from which 10000 plots of 80sq yards for low-income groups are ready for launching.
The physical possession of these newly balloted plots will be handed to allottees within record time of one year, he added.
He informed that 10, 000 residential plots of different categories balloted earlier are ready for physical possession in Block 11, 12, 31 and 32 from which 3000 of those allottees who have cleared dues and completed all their codal formalities would be given physical possession soon.
He said one track of Hawkesbay road, from Grax Village to Haksbay Beach (T-Junction), has been completed while the remaining track would be completed after funding from City District Government Karachi (CDGK). This 7.94km long project would cost Rs193 million.
Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government Mirza Karim Baig was also present.—PPI
