MUZAFFARGARH, Jan 7: An otherwise indispensable project initiated in this district by the previous provincial government has fallen prey to routine red tape as the local administration has recently stopped construction of Rescue-1122 Centre.

The district administration is, however, planning to shift the Rs21.91 million project to an appropriate location, Dawn learned on Tuesday.

Sources said former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi had approved the construction of Rescue-1122 Centre in Fiaz Park here and work order for the 15-month project was given to the contractor on Nov 24, 2008 and a chunk of land was also allotted by the revenue department for this purpose.

Though the contractor, Amjad Shirwani, started the project soon after the completion of due process, quite recently he was told to abandon the work as the district administration was no more interested in getting the centre built in Fiaz Park. The contractor hurriedly abandoned the work and disappeared while social circles have lamented the postponement of the project.

Talking to Dawn, Advocate Rana Amjad said the district badly needed the establishment of Rescue-1122 Centre because many accidents occurred in the area, particularly near River Chenab, and many of the victims could have survived had they been provided treatment on time.

A citizen, Chaudhry Umer Draz, has also moved the district court against the suspension of work, saying that the previous government had approved the construction of Rescue 1122 centres in Layyah and Muzaffargarh districts, but work on Muzaffargarh’s alone had been stopped. The district judge has sought reply from the administration for Jan 14.

A senior district government official, who wished not to be named, said that the project had not been shelved permanently and the government was looking for a suitable site for the centre to make it conveniently accessible.

He said the district government was planning to revamp the Fiaz Park and Rs2.5 million had been approved for the purpose.