HYDERABAD, Aug 28: The Taluka Municipal Administration, City, on Saturday floated tenders for three commercial schemes amidst reports that the local bodies ministry has banned the launching of any such scheme.

The district government did not send its nominee to witness the process of tenders of the schemes, to be launched this fiscal year.

District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman confirmed that the matter was between the City TMA and the local bodies ministry.

He said he had also come to know that the ministry had banned the launching of commercial schemes after Feb 21.

A committee, comprising City Taluka Council members Qamaruddin Shaikh, Iqbal Shaikh, Iqbal Kaimkhani, Ghaffar Shah and Qari Niaz, along with CBA union general-secretary Akram Rajput, supervised the process of tenders.

The tenders were issued for three schemes to be launched at the fire brigade market, in Fakir ka Pir and at the central building of the TMA on the Station Road.

Inquiries revealed that three firms - Classic, Karsaz and Arif Builders - had offered their bids for Rs41 million, Rs36.5 million and Rs55 million respectively.

The bids would be placed for approval at a meeting of the City Taluka Council.

The TMA intends to launch commercial schemes with offices, shops and residential flats at its building.

The builder will pay Rs55 million in instalments. The first instalment of Rs20 million would be paid when the agreement will be singed, followed by another similar instalment after six months, and then Rs15 million after one year.

The TMA has not officially received any letter imposing ban on commercial schemes.

TMA sources said following press reports of imposition of a ban on commercial schemes, City Taluka Nazim Moinuddin Shaikh sent a letter to the local bodies ministry, seeking a clarification but no reply had been received as yet.

The TMA had listed details of these commercial schemes in the 2004-05 budget.