HYDERABAD, Feb 14: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPA Abdul Rehman Rajput has demanded devolution of the Hyderabad Development Authority at taluka-evel according to the Sindh Local Government Ordinance.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday, he said that the HDA should have been devolved with the inception of the Hyderabad district government but it had not been done as a result, anti-people officers had maintained a stranglehold over the organization.

He said that the people faced tremendous problems of sewerage and water supply and were fed up with the HDA. He referred to poor sanitation in Dadan Shah Colony, Qadam Gah-i-Maula Ali, Qazi Abdul Qayyum Road, Makki Shah Road, Fakir-jo-Pir and other areas where underground sewerage system of the HDA existed.

The MPA alleged that pumping machines were being jammed and sewerage lines choked deliberately whereas millions of rupees spent on roads through the funds of the MMA MNAs and MPAs had gone down the drain.

Without naming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said that its members were trying to get political mileage of present situation, and held the party responsible for predicament of people of the city.

He stated that had the HDA been sincere with the city and its people, its officers would not have got funds of the governor's package withheld. He claimed that non-technical officials, appointed by the MQM, were heading the HDA and Water and Sanitation Agency and alleged that several officials of the HDA were working as undeclared workers of the party.

He added that the officials were trying to appease the party leaders and were least interested about their responsibilities. Mr Rajput said that some funds of the governor's package had been released due to pressure of the MMA but the DCO was not utilizing them for particular reasons.

He criticised a recent visit of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad to the city, saying that he was to look after administrative issues and not to pay political visits. He alleged that Mr Ibad had withheld funds of the package announced by former governor Mohammed mian Soomro, and, therefore, he was mainly responsible for destruction of Hyderabad.

President of the Hyderabad chapter of the Jamiat Ulma-i-Pakistan Ibrahim Shaikh and general secretary Mohammad Shakir Raza were present at the press conference.