HYDERABAD: The first inquiry into distribution of plots in the new sabzi mandi project has revealed that administrators made multiple allotments irregularly in collusion with others to get the plots registered in the revenue record, depriving the genuine owners of their properties.

Following submission of the inquiry — ordered last year in January by Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu — the minister has called for another detailed inquiry into multiple allotments of plots in the new sabzi mandi project of Hyderabad and tasked the relevant committee to fix responsibilities on all those responsible for the corruption.

Mr Rahu told Dawn he had ordered another detailed inquiry on Wednesday. “I want responsibility fixed as to who has done this and who is responsible for all this mess regardless of the fact whosoever he may be,” he said.

He said the fresh inquiry would hopefully cover all aspects of those irregularities.

He ordered the inquiry after his apparent dissatisfaction on a previous inquiry conducted by three agriculture officers under his directives last year into affairs of the sabzi mandi.

He had ordered that inquiry on Jan 30, 2020 which was conducted by three officers, Shakil Ahmed Shaikh, Mohammad Saleem Shaikh and Fazal Ahmed Junejo.

Their report was submitted to the minister recently, revealing that “during scrutiny of record, it has been found that multiple allotments of plots/shops in new Sabzi mandi have been made by the incumbent administrators and simultaneously payments have been received from all allottees at the same time.

“But the record shows that most of re-allotments have been made without issuing cancellation orders to the first allottees, which makes subsequent allotments illegal in the eyes of law,” it added.

Accordingly, the report said, looking at actual record placed before this committee regarding double/multiple allotments of plots in the fruit section showed that 41 plots were involved. Plot numbers have been mentioned. The report said that details of some plots could not be looked into for being sub judice.

“The incumbent administrators have been clearly mentioned against each plot who made multiple allotments irregularly and collusively got those plots registered in the revenue record, hence deprived the genuine owners.” It said the real allotment as established by the record had been declared in each case.

The report recommended that genuine entitlement of the plots had been established from the record so the rest of the allottees of the same plot might be refunded their deposited amount or adjusted against vacant plots if available or to be available in case of any cancellation, if agreed by the parties.

However, transparency must be kept in such transactions to avoid recurrence of double allotment or any untoward situation. It recommended that delinquent administrators/secretaries be given a chance of hearing before any adverse action as nobody could be condemned unheard as per principle of natural justice. It said that moreover case of illegally registered plots with collusive arrangement of then administrators might be contested in the light of recent judgement passed by the Sindh High Court.

The Sabzi Mandi project — funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) — in 1990s seemed to have become a big scandal. Many traders of vegetables and fruit are running from pillar to post to get their cases of plots settled. The old market located at Hali Road has been shifted to its new location.

The mandi located off lined channel on the outskirts of the city has been made functional though without basic amenities or facilities like bank.

The civil administration, lately, did not let vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits reach the old sabzi mandi to ensure principle auction takes place there in line with high court’s order. The process for market shifting started last year due to the pandemic. The petitioner traders vow to file contempt plea against the administration and police officers for violation of high court’s order.

ACE deputy director transferred

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Hyderabad is conducting a probe into complaints against the then administrators and others. Most complaints are filed against ex-administrator Shaukat Mastoi, sitting agriculture department’s director marketing.

The probe has, however, been delayed unusually. Ten applications were filed before the ACE Hyderabad in the past few years.

The ACE could not start probe for want of availability of the record by the market committee administrator.

The Sindh government has recently transferred ACE deputy director Ghazanfar Qadri, who had asked market committee chairman Shahnawaz Rind to submit the record before ACE or face action. The new ACE deputy director is not yet posted.

Members of the market committee are elected only recently, otherwise administrators were running the show.

These administrators have colluded with Hyderabad’s business community representatives, who got favours from the administrators. These representatives today blame each other for irregularities.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2021