LDA depts filing bogus reports in CM Secretariat
By YASIR HABIB KHAN November 19, 2009 LAHORE - The scandal of bogus reports filed by different departments of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) in the CM Secretariat to pose as the best performers has racked up storms in government circles, giving the impression to everyone that whatsoever is going on in the name of good governance is just a mirage.
The authority concerned has been lying dormant in an entirely traditional manner, which indicates that it is not in a mood to take notice of the unchecked and overwhelmingly rampant exercise.
As the LDA lacks proper check and balance system to curb the growing menace, a notorious case about filing fictitious reports in recovery procedure of commercialisation fees in LDA’s Town Planning Branch surfaced recently. However, brewing concern could not wake up LDA high-ups from their deep slumber.
LDA’s Directorate of Enforcement led by its newly-appointed head Adnan Shahzad is the new horse in the race of exhibiting sham performance by submitting fake reports to the CM Secretariat.
Feeling impunity, Adnan Shahzad who is at the helm of affairs in the Directorate of Enforcement has started pouring bogus reports in the CM Secretariat about razing out various types of encroachments including iron gates to prove himself as a performance-oriented official in the eyes of the Chief Minister Punjab.
A LDA official seeking anonymity told The Nation that the CM relied on the progress only presented through papers and files. “His (CM) requirement is fulfilled by paper exercise. Considering it as the best formula, Adnan Shahzad has been active to submit the fake reports believing that the present government values paper performance instead of concrete physical work,” he added.
The glaring false performance of the Directorate of Enforcement could be gauged by the fact that the LDA removed 150 feet iron gate illegally erected between EME Housing Society and Judicial Colony Phase III on November 5 on the special direction of LDA DG Umer Rasool under the influence of an important figure of the judiciary. Then Directorate of Enforcement head Rana Yaqoob sent a written report to LDA DG. He sent another detail report to Director Estate Management. The officials of Directorate of Enforcement, Estate Management and Chief Metropolitan Planning (CMP) wing assisted in the demolition operation. CMP wing Assistant Director Habibul Qamar and Masoodud Din were also present on the occasion. The gate was a nuisance for the residents of adjoining colonies as it causing hurdles in the movement of the people as well as smooth flow of traffic in the area.
However, LDA Directorate of Enforcement new head Adnan Shahid issued a handout on November 18 bearing that LDA Directorate of Enforcement had started operation against iron gates and illegal occupation. The handout said that the LDA staff dismantled a huge iron gate that had been illegally erected on a 150 feet wide structure road passing through the EME Housing Society.
It claimed that Directorate of Enforcement also took action against illegal makeshift huts in the D-Block and Expo Centre area of Johar Town and cleared large chunks of precious state land at these places by removing around 500 such huts. However, sources revealed that no operation was launched to remove such illegal structures as these huts were still intact.
The handout further said that lists of encroachments and illegal constructions in the LDA’s controlled area are being finalised and soon massive operations will be launched against such structures by LDA’s Enforcement Directorate. While insider in Directorate of enforcement disclosed that everything was being done on papers and bogus reports were being submitted to CM secretariat.
It may be recalled that in January, 2009 the Estate Management Directorate and Town Planning Wing of LDA launched had started a campaign against encroachments and illegally erected iron gates in various localities to clear the “right of way” to public roads, lanes and streets.
LDA believed that this would restore the right of way of general public while the affected residents view the removal of gates as a threat to security in the backdrop of worsening law and order situation. Police, expressing surprise on the removal of gates being used as security shield, have urged the government authorities to take such steps in consultation with all stakeholders and agencies. Surprisingly, the campaign aimed to give the City a better look, started from Allama Iqbal Town. In less than a week the LDA removed 270 illegal gates from only that locality. LDA also claims that majority of public appreciated the authority for taking this step.
The drive, targeting LDA scheme areas, was to purge these vicinities of illegal structures and other disorders that create hurdles in pedestrians’ movement and smooth flow of traffic. The LDA schemes of the City include Gulberg, Johar Town, Model Town Extension, Faisal Town, Green Town and Township (called Quaid-e-Azam Town in LDA papers), Gulshan-e-Ravi, Gujjar Pura, Taj Pura and others.