MINGORA, Sept 4: Performance of the local bodies councils in Malakand division has disappointed area people who complain that these institutions have done nothing to develop backward areas.

At the time of promulgation of the local government ordinance, it was claimed by the official quarters that the new system would bring about an all-round improvement, especially in backward areas. However, all hopes in this regard have now been dashed as only an year is left in the next local bodies elections.

For the development of far-flung areas, the government set up citizens community boards which were given the task to prepare mega projects. However, it is learnt that district nazims in the Malakand area are not willing to release 25 per cent share in development funds to these boards on pretext or the other.

Community boards in other parts of the country have launched mega projects costing millions of rupees. However, in Mardan despite submitting schemes by the boards funds for the purpose are yet to be released as the nazims do not like funds to be spent by non-elected people (communities), saying that being elected people it is their right to spend the funds at their free will.

The area people in many instances have deposited the 20 per cent community share for the schemes but whenever they visit the office of the authorities concerned for release of funds, they are turned back by officials on one excuse or the other.

In Swat alone, 101 citizen community boards are functioning which have submitted about 51 schemes. Out of these schemes, funds for 23 schemes have been approved. However, no major scheme has been approved for funding as the district council nazims have decided that no scheme costing over Rs300,000 would be approved.

Most of the office-bearers of the CCBs oppose the stand taken by the nazims and term it a violation of the local government ordinance. It is learnt that the nazims are trying to introduce community boards comprising their family members and initiate development schemes in order to keep their vote bank intact.

Sources said that a huge fund of about Rs20 million had been available for the last three years which was meant to be spent through the CCBs, but the local bodies were trying to distribute it through union councils.

Talking to this correspondent, social workers Amna Khan and Mutasarif Khan said the entire Malakand division was a backward area in all respects and it needed full attention of the government.

The local government system had been introduced with an aim to identify schemes and solve problems of the people, especially in the rural areas, they said and added that urban areas were receiving funds one way or the other, but the rural areas had so far been neglected.

They said the local body people belonged to the grass-root level who were expected to play an important role in bringing neglected areas at a par with the developed ones. The government had allocated funds and now it was the responsibility of the people to utilize them properly, they maintained.

The office-bearers of the CCBs have urged the authorities concerned to expedite the process of payment so that the schemes could be initiated without any further delay.