Fruits and vegetables market: Rs1.56b allocated to move market from Kot Lakhpat

Funds diverted from LDA Avenue-I housing scheme.

LAHORE:

The Lahore Development Authority on Tuesday allocated Rs1.559 billion for the shifting of Fruit and Vegetable Market from Kot Lakhpat to Gajjumatta.

The funds were diverted from development works in LDA Avenue-I Housing Scheme, according to a working paper circulated at the Tuesday’s governing body meeting.

The LDA Engineering Wing had earlier estimated the value of land at Kot Lakhpat market at Rs1.24 billion and that of the buildings at Rs360.8 million. The total value of the structure of 227 shops at the market was estimated at Rs338 million, of the mosque at Rs 15.4 million, of the post office at Rs 1.154 million, of the market committee office at Rs4.479 million and of the 40 eateries (shops and kiosks) at Rs 2.2 million.

In Tuesday’s meeting the LDA decided to keep the Land Acquisition Collector (LAC) out of the payment process.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Khan Cheema told The Express Tribune that the LAC was needed when the authority had to procure private land. He said the LDA owned the Kot Lakhpat market land and the amount was being paid to repossess it. Cheema said the shifting of the market to Gajjumatta would start in the next three weeks. About the repossessed land at Kot Lakhpat, he said they had not yet finalised what it would be used for.

He said the shifting of the market was necessary because it was creating traffic and environmental problems for the residents of the area.

The market traders, however, believe that the district administration is shifting the market because of its proximity to the Information Technology Tower.

Ghulam Ali, a dealer at the Kot Lakhpat market, said the purpose of shifting the market was to clear up the area near the IT Tower. He said they had had businesses at the market for over 33 years.

The LDA had decided to shift the Fruit and Vegetable Market from Kot Lakhpat to Gajjumatta five months ago. DCO Ahad Cheema had then announced that work on shifting the market would start by January 2011. However, it was delayed owing to a shortage of funds and resistance put up by the traders.

The 1,000-kanal land identified for the shifting of market in Gajjumatta is owned by the Livestock Department and would be transferred to the LDA before the shifting commences.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2011.