KARACHI, Feb 10: A vast difference in the lease rates of katchi abadis falling under the jurisdictions of the Sindh and the city governments is likely to create resentment among the dwellers of such katchi abadis, who are being charged much higher rates.

Another shocking aspect of the current drive for granting of lease to the dwellers of katchi abadis is that officials of both the city and Sindh governments are also granting lease to those huge size plots where commercial and industrial ventures are being run despite the fact that katchi abadis are supposed to house shelterless people only. This amounted to flouting the provisions of the Sindh Katchi Abadis Act.

In this regard, the CDGK has fixed a meagre amount of Rs300 for granting lease to an industrial plot in its katchi abadi, irrespective of its location and size. While the Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority's (SKAA) lease rates for commercial plots are higher, ranging between Rs363 and Rs1,089.

Meanwhile, as far as residential plots are concerned, a minute scrutiny would show that the minimum lease rate for such a plot of 120 sq-yd in a city government katchi abadi was Rs25 per sq-yd. And of a residential unit (81 to 120 sq-yd) in a Sindh government's katchi abadi is Rs121 per sq-yd, indicating a vast difference.

But, the disparity in lease rates of katchi abadis of both the governments does not end here. The CDGK has fixed a uniform lease rate for all its katchi abadis whereas the SKAA's lease rates vary from one locality to another for which the city has been divided into six zones.

A comparative study of lease rates of residential plots of katchi abadis of both the Sindh and city governments shows that the CDGK has fixed a uniform rate of Rs25 per sq-yd for a 120 sq-yard unit.

While a dweller of the Sindh government's katchi abadis, situated in Baldia, Surjani, Hawkesbay and Mauripur is required to pay Rs31 per sq-yd for a residential unit measuring up to 60 sq-yd; Rs61 per sq-yd (for 61 to 80 sq-yd); Rs121 per sq-yd (for 81-120 sq-yd); Rs182 (for 121-140 sq-yd); and Rs339 (141 sq-yd and above).

The lease rates fixed by the SKAA for its Zone-I katchi abadis, situated in Clifton, Defence Society, Old City Area and PECHS, are higher than those being charged from residents of its katchi abadis in other five zones.

As such, a dweller of a katchi abadi situated in Zone-I will have to pay a rate of Rs61 per sq-yd for a residential unit of up to 60 sq-yd; Rs121 per sq-yd (for 61 to 80 sq-yd); Rs242 per sq-yd (for 81-120 sq-yd); Rs424 per sq-yd (for 121-240 sq-yd); and Rs726 per sq-yd (for 241 sq-yd and above).

Emphasising the need for applying uniform lease rates to katchi abadis of both the Sindh and city governments, a resident of the Sindh government's katchi abadi remarked: "Isn't it unjust that dwellers of one katchi abadi are being charged lesser rates and that of another are charged higher rates, despite the fact that both the categories of katchi abadis are situated in the same city, and in some cases quite close to each other."

Concerned citizens have also voiced their concern over the reported trend of granting lease to the residents of katchi abadis who are in possession of bigger plots, measuring even up to 1,000 sq-yd, saying that such an act not only amounted to flouting the provisions of the Sindh Katchi Abadis Act, whereby only a 120 sq-yd residential unit could be regularized, but would also encourage land grabbers.

It may be mentioned that in all, there are 539 katchi abadis, spreading over a total area of 15,484 acres in the entire city, and of which, 261 come under the control of the SKAA while the remaining 278 are under the CDGK.