KARACHI, Nov 6: The elected representatives of Lyari and Keamari towns have complained that they are being totally ignored in the matters of the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) despite the fact that the jurisdiction of the authority falls in both the towns.

The LDA was established in 1993 through a provincial legislative act called the Lyari Development Authority Act, 1993. The purpose of this authority is to develop and redevelop the neglected areas and to improve the socio-economic conditions of such areas.

After the creation of the authority, the now defunct Karachi Development Authority transferred the prestigious Hawkesbay Housing Scheme No 42 to the LDA. But the issue of outstanding dues remained the bone of contention between the two authorities and could not be resolved. This had made the LDA financially crippled.

The elected representatives of Lyari and Keamari have always complained that the officials concerned dealing with the LDA’s affairs had constantly neglected them and had never taken them into confidence regarding the LDA’s matters.

The nazim of Lyari Town has once again raised the issue in a letter dated 5-11-2007 addressed to the Sindh governor complaining that both the towns are totally being neglected as far as matters of the LDA are concerned.

In this regard the Lyari Town nazim referred to a recent meeting called to discuss the affairs of the authority. The nazim regretted to say that the people of Lyari and Keamari towns were disappointed to know that the nazims of Saddar and Jamshed towns had been invited to attend the said meeting as “members,” while the nazims of Lyari and Keamari had been totally ignored, even though the development authority’s title belongs to Lyari and its area of operation also falls within the jurisdiction of Keamari Town.

The Lyari Town nazim wrote that: “In this scenario, neglecting the elected representatives of Lyari and Keamari towns in the affairs of the LDA will dampen the real cause and spirit of its establishment.”

The nazim has urged the provincial government to look into the matter and to ensure that public representatives elected from these towns are not discriminated against and are included in the LDA’s governing so that they could play an active role in the development of their areas.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Yunis Baloch alias Mama Yunis, a prominent social worker of Lyari, said that he had received a letter from the LDA secretary to attend the authority’s meeting which was scheduled for 30-10-2007. He said he had refused to attend the proposed meeting because he was not a member of the governing body and no prior notification was given to him.He said it was evident from the title the idea behind the authority was to extend maximum facilities to the residents of Lyari.

He also regretted to say that Lyari is totally ignored in the newly proposed housing scheme of 9,000 plots.

Mr Yunis said that Hawkesbay Housing Scheme No 42 is one of the oldest projects of the LDA, initiated about 18 years ago, but the project was yet to be finalized.