MIANWALI, June 27: The low-income housing colony has become a victim of official apathy as the Punjab Housing and Physical Planning department is unwilling to hand over its control to the tehsil municipal administration as required under the local government law. The department undertook the colony project, spreading over 37.20 acres, in 1974, which got completed in 1976.

After introduction of district governments, the control of such other colonies in the province has bee placed under respective TMAs, but the colony, later named as Muslim Colony, is still an exception to this arrangement, with the result that it is being neglected by the department having its control, as well as by the district government.

The affairs of the colony, located near the District Sports Stadium, are now being run by a deputy-director who is based in Bhakkar district. An overseer and a clerk comprise the staff who seldom visit the office set up in a quarter meant for chowkidar’s residence at the colony. The deputy-director visits the colony once in a blue moon. So the residents usually find nobody to attend to their complaints.

In the virtual absence of any authority to look after the colony’s affairs, some of its residents have encroached upon the state land which needed to be checked by a responsible officer.

Contrary to the colony’s original plan, there is no playground, park, street light, community centre, post office, health centre, market and sewerage system in the locality. Moreover, no sweeper or any other official has been appointed for keeping the place tidy.

With the passage of time, the meagre infrastructure initially provided for the residents has gone out of service and no one ever bothered to take steps for its repair and maintenance. The tubewell and drainage disposal pump of the colony have gone out of order because of power disconnection due to nonpayment of bills.

Tehsil Nazim Haji Khurshid Anwar Khan toldDawn that conceptually the department had been devolved into the district government, represented by TMA, but the elected members had not been given the control of the colony’s affairs.

He said many allotees were in litigation with the department on the issues arising out of maladministration. The residents often complained that the housing department officials did not provide them any record, if needed, without taking bribes, he said.

If a high-level probe was conducted into the colony’s affairs, many cases of illegal allotment could be unearthed, the nazim claimed.

Punjab chief minister was also apprised of the situation during his visit to Mianwali but nothing was done to uncover the corruption of the department officials.