October 02, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 19, 1428

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 1: Development funds worth around Rs2 billion are lapsing here because of an ongoing tussle between the district nazim and tehsil nazim regarding their competency to execute development projects. The law is, however, very much clear and their jurisdiction to carry out development projects is explicitly prescribed.

According to the spirit of the Devolution of Powers Plan and in terms of Punjab Local Government Ordinance, Tehsil Municipal Administrations through tehsil nazims are authorised to carry out all development projects in their respective jurisdictions.

But, the district nazim is of the view that instead of a tehsil nazim he, being head of the district government, is empowered to carry out all development projects in whole of the district and an ensuing legal dispute is pending before the secretary, Punjab Local Government Department, Lahore.

During the first four-year term of devolution plan, the district could not witness a development boom because of a row between the then district nazim, Jamal Leghari, and members of the National and Punjab Assembly.

During the current four-year term, Maqsood Ahmed Leghari was elected district nazim with high hopes that he would make a difference, as compared to former district nazim, but to no avail. Two years on now, the district government could not deliver to the masses because of the confrontation between District Nazim Maqsood Ahmed Leghari and Tehsil Nazim Mehmood Qadir Leghari.

Though district nazim belongs to ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and tehsil nazim belongs to Farooq Leghari’s Group, a stronger ally of the PML, both the elected representatives have failed to develop a compatible working relationship to undertake development of the area and the ensuing litigation has even halted those few development schemes, which were anyhow launched during this period.

The district government had also failed to spend its 60 per cent of the annual budget for 2006-07, which was later distributed among district departments just before the end of the financial year.

Residents are always optimistic ahead of Punjab governor’s any visit to the district considering him their sole saviour. Recently, he visited the area on Saturday, which was his second tour to this remote district.

However, problems which were told to the governor during his first-ever visit to the district a few months ago, still persist. For example, he ordered the removal of FWO’s Toll Plaza on Dera-Quetta Road from its present location to a location outside city precincts, but the orders are yet to be implemented.

The governor’s Saturday’s visit also did not bring any fruit. The locals were hopeful that he would announce some development projects but nothing such could happen to fulfil their aspirations.

Some of the public demands are restoration of Manika Canal and completion of an under-construction inter-provincial bridge on Manika Canal, which is a victim of lack of funds.

The locals also demand provision of potable water, construction of new drainage system and a new sports stadium and reconstruction of dilapidated roads. They have urged the authorities concerned including the governor to address these problems at the earliest.