MANSEHRA, Jan 19: The revenue department has been facing a daunting task of acquiring land for construction of government offices and fixing its price in Torghar district as no legal land record is compiled ever in the previously tribal area of Mansehra district.
In this regard, a jirga of elders on Thursday demanded of the government to enhance the price of land being acquired for offices at Judbah, the new district's headquarters. The jirga, held in Bassikahil, Judbah, also decided to take up the issue with the provincial government.
Speaking on the occasion, Mufti Azizullah and other elders said that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti in a meeting with the Torghar people had announced to acquire the land in accordance with the market price, but the district administration was reluctant to implement the price rule.
They said that over 350 kanals were being acquired in Judbah alone on throw away prices, which was unacceptable to the people.
They said that the government had accepted all demands of the people before changing the tribal status of the area, but it was deviating from its commitment.
When contacted, Torghar district coordination officer Mohammad Fareed Khan said that the administration was facing a number of challenges as there was no legal land record available with the revenue department, but still the district revenue officewas trying to settle the issue amicably.
'We are in contact with the elders and prices of land in the adjoining Battagram, Mansehra and Shangla districts are being discussed to set an acceptable price formula,' he said. Besides, the elders complained that work on development schemes in the district was very slow, demanding that all the projects should be completed within given time.
CONSUMER RIGHTS: The consumer courts and consumers protection council (CPC) will work jointly to check price hike and sale of hazardous goods in Mansehra district.
This was discussed here on Thursday in a meeting attended by the council chairman Shahjahan Khan Swati, judge of consumer court Mohammad Arshad Khan, assistant coordination officer Ali Shahzad, heads of district government departments and religious leaders.
Judge Arshad Khan said that the court had already disposed of many petitions and provided relief to consumers.
He vowed to provide justice to the people and control price hike and sale of hazardous goods.
Mr Swati said that the council had sealed four health centres, which were being run by fake doctors in Mansehra for the last many years. He said that billboard and banners would be hung across the district to create awareness of consumer rights.