Sindh

HMC’s plan to rent out public park for ‘Eid Mela’ foiled

Complainants tell DC, people cannot be forced to pay tickets to visit public space

Z Ali April 22, 2023

A visitor takes keen interest in cultural and traditional items while an elderly woman weaves clothes on a handloom at a mela. Photo: Online/File

HYDRABAD:

The attempt of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) to hand over a public park to a private contractor for 10 days starting from Eidul Fitr stands foiled following public outcry. The Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro has asked the HMC's Municipal Commissioner Fakhir Shakir to cancel the contract, pointing out that they have committed an illegal act.

Earlier this month, the HMC awarded the contract to an individual Akram Qureshi to operate the public park, named Mustafa Family Park in City taluka, for 10 days till April 30 on commercial basis. He was allowed to charge an entrance fee besides other charges from the visitors.

"In this context, you [HMC] have repeatedly been informed that the municipal agencies own and maintain the public parks, nurseries, gardens and other public places," the DC wrote in a letter to the HMC. The DC also stated that time and again his office received applications from the HMC to grant no objection certificates (NOCs) to hand over one or other public park to some contractors for commercial gains of the private parties.

Soomro reminded the officials of HMC that the corporation is solely responsible for upkeep of the parks as per the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013. The public places which fall under the domain of the municipal authorities under the Act include parks, gardens, playgrounds, Eidgahs, streets, street lights, plantation and trees. The municipalities are responsible for preventing nuisance in public places and streets.

The DC asked the HMC's officials to restrain from such activities in the future and to regularly maintain the properties in their possession. Soomro took notice of the issues on a complaint filed by a traders' association.

Shama Commercial Association of Trade and Industry in collaboration with Pakistan Rangers Sindh had renovated the park, laid the grass lawn and planted trees and flowering plants. However, this public space has been rented out by the HMC, which prompted the traders to file complaint with the DC.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2023.