CHINIOT - The Anti-Corruption Establishment has initiated a probe into alleged misappropriation of funds in “fake” development projects being carried out by the Tehsil Municipal Administration of Chiniot. 
The inquiry was launched on the directives of ACE Director General Sheikh Mohammad Abid. Some Tehsil Municipal Administration officials are showing funds spending on the development schemes which have already completed. It is revealed that the TMA, which has Rs120 million development budget for the year 2011-12, initiated fake development schemes without following the legal requirements like tender process.
One such misappropriation of funds was unearthed by Abdul Rehman Kalyar, a journalist who submitted an application to the ACE DG that the TMA of Chiniot advertised a tender notice for 10 development schemes worth 28,73,000 rupees on May 25, 2012.  But, he added, most of these schemes had already been completed.
He said that addresses of these schemes were also fake. He explained that out of them, one was scheme No 3 mentioned in the advertisement titled ‘construction of sewerage, drains, PCC slab, manholes’ repair work etc.’ in city Chiniot for which 5 lakh rupees have been allocated.  Another scheme is about construction of sewerage line on the Jhang Road.  The complainant said that all the 10 schemes advertised were fake.
He alleged that the TMA officials wanted to misappropriate an amount of 2.87 million rupees. However, the site of Quaid Azam Park and its car parking was well built.  The floor was made with concrete and tough tiles while its boundary wall was made with barbed wires supported by concrete pillars.
The Anti Corruption Establishment deputy director said that he summoned the TMA officials many a time and directed them to submit a reply.  But time and again they were not submitting a reply. On the other side, most of the slum areas of the town lack sewerage, potable water facilities but the TMA is spending money on such schemes.  Professor Ghous Akhter, the president of Water Council, a body formed for provision of drinkable water for 20,000 inhabitants who live on the hilly area of Chiniot, said that he had requested time and again for replacement of water pipes but the TMA had no funds for the area.
Jafir Hussain, administrator of a private school at Shah Nawaz Colony, said that there was a sewerage nullah which is up to 3 feet wide and deep passes along the populated areas in front of his school and many children have been injured by falling into it in a bid to climb it. The citizens have demanded that the Punjab chief minister should take serious notice of the misappropriation. When contacted, TMA Administrator Mohsin Rashid denied the allegations, saying that the people could the work being carried out at these schemes after completion of the tender process.