MANSEHRA, Sept 3 District Nazim Sardar Mohammad Yousaf has ordered an inquiry into alleged embezzlement in purchase of mini-tractors by the district government.

He claimed that a mini-tractor worth Rs175,000 was purchased for Rs460,000, thus misappropriating a total amount of Rs70 million.

The nazim also criticised the slow pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Mansehra, holding the District Reconstruction Unit (DRU) responsible for it.

“The DRU is directly responsible for the delay in execution of health, education, road and water and sanitation schemes,” he told a monthly progress committee meeting here on Thursday.

Besides the district nazim, Balakot Tehsil Nazim Syed Junaid Qasim, Oghi Tehsil Nazim Laiq Khan and representatives of the DRU, Nespak and civic agencies attended the meeting.

The meeting approved 90 reconstruction and rehabilitation schemes and raised objections over another 20 schemes, asking authorities concerned to resubmit the schemes after completing the required work.

The district nazim said the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority had established DRU in every affected district, but in Mansehra it was not working in accordance with its mandate.

Junaid Qasim objected over inclusion of Rs100 million for the Jabba sheep farm and termed it wastage of money, saying it would not benefit the people. “The government can rebuild many schools from this amount.”

He said that because of no proper planning, huge funds meant for earthquake survivors were being spent on not so important schemes, which should be removed from the development plan.

An inquiry committee was also constituted to protect 5,550 kanals of land of the Jabba sheep farm and hold an inquiry into the matter.

Laiq Khan demanded an inquiry into alleged embezzlement of billions of rupees in schemes of Kala Dhaka, saying although payment had been made to the contractor concerned, no work had been carried out.

Nespak representative Maqsood Ahmad claimed that workers of Nespak had been looted and thrashed in the Tanawal area, adding if such activities were not stopped and protection was not provided to workers, Nespak would stop work in Tanawal.

ICE FACTORY Residents of Banda Lal Khan have called upon the government to shift an ice factory from the populated area, saying leakage of ammonia gas from the factory posed health hazards for local people. “Because of leakage of a gas cylinder, hundreds of people fell unconscious and dozens of birds perished. If the factory is not shifted immediately it can cause a big tragedy,” they said.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, a delegation of Banda Lal Khan, led by prayer leader of central masque Maulana Mujeebur Rehman, said they approached police and the district administration for shifting the factory following the leakage of ammonia gas on Aug 29, but to no avail. Members of the delegation, including Ahmad Nawaz Jahangery, Qazi Mohammad Bashir and Maulana Ashraf Ali Tanoli, warned that they would block the Karakoram Highway if the factory was not shifted or closed in a week.