BAHAWALPUR: A bid for alleged corruption in auction of 3,600 trees by the forest department has been foiled.

As work on the conversion of 90km long Bahawalpur-Hasilpur road into a dual carriageway was undertaken by the highways department, the officials of the forest department planned the sale of 3,600 grown-up and old trees along both sides of the road.

A committee of the forest officials was formed to auction the trees. However, instead of the committee District Forest Officer Ijaz Ahmed allegedly auctioned the trees on his own for Rs17million. The sources said the deal was rejected by the conservators of forest. The district forest officer urged his seniors to approve the auction but the conservator ordered the re-auction of trees by the committee.

Later the trees were auctioned under the supervision of the committee for about Rs18million, bringing Rs1.4m extra as compared to the earlier auction.

Conservator Forest, Bahawalpur Liquat Sulehri, when contacted, confirmed to Dawn that the re-auction had been sent for approval to Punjab Forest secretary while action had been recommended against DFO Ijaz Ahmed.

INUNDATED: Sewerage in the parts of the old city areas collapsed on Sunday, inundating many streets and roads.

Residents complained that manholes and sewerage were chocked, resulting in inundation of their surrounding streets and roads.

The worst-affected localities was Ghandhi Gali which turned into a stream, troubling the people doing shopping in Shahi Bazaar, Chah Fateh Khan and Darul Kabab areas touching the parts of Circular Road and affecting the medical stores opposite the Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

The tehsil municipal administration had installed a machine there to clear the sewage which was still increasing at the time of filing of this story.

SHOPPING: Shopping for Eidul Fitr has reached its peak as the local bazaars, plazas and shopping areas were crowded with the people, including a large number ofwomen and children.

New stalls have been set up outside the shops which had narrowed the passages for pedestrians. A number of vendors have also set up stalls and kiosks along the roads and streets. The shopping spree would continue until Chand Raat.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014