NAWABSHAH, April 27: Members of the district council criticized the absence from the council session of the EDO (revenue) saying most of the items on agenda concerned his department.

Speaking during the session, Bahar Mari said that the EDO of finance department was using various tactis to delay payment of salaries to staff of union councils and asked convener Khalid Hussain Channar to direct him to make the payments by fifth of each month.

Riaz Zardari criticised the officials of all the 12 departments working under the district government and said that the members had been seeking a two-year performance report of the departments for eight months but to no avail.

Jam Feroze Unnar drew attention of the session to illegal tree chopping and encroachments in the Lakhat, Mehrabpur, Mari and Qazi Ahmed forests. The range forest officer said that the department realised that tree chopping was common and influential landlords had grabbed forest land but as police was not extending a helping hand, it was difficult for the department to control both the practices. The members asked the convener to send a letter to the forest secretary in this regard.