Hyderabad authorities dodge NAB's queries

Probe into emergence of commercial plazas in residential neighbourhoods opens can of worms

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HYDERABAD:

The Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) fails to submit the required correct and complete response to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) even after repeated reminders.

A probe into the sudden emergence of commercial plazas in the once quaint residential neighbourhoods of Latifabad has opened a can of worms.

The corruption watchdog is after the officers and employees of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Sindh Building Control Authority, Local Government Department and others for gross regularities in changing the status of residential plots to commercial.

Sources say that NAB may also initiate action against WASA officers for hiding evidence and not cooperating in the investigations.

Per officials in HWSC, NAB had declared the reply and records sent by HWSC Deputy Director Admin for investigation as incomplete and directed that complete records and details be provided by December 5.

However, it was instructed to submit complete records on December 24 since HWSC did not respond on December 5. Citing the Corporation's board meeting as an excuse, HWSC neither submitted a reply on the 24th nor has it been submitted till now. It is being said that more information will be provided to NAB through another letter on December 30 or 31.

NAB Karachi was currently investigating the conversion of residential plots into commercial plots in Latifabad despite not having the authority.

The premier anti-corruption body was also investigating the construction of multi-storey buildings, wedding halls, filling stations and other commercial structures on these plots despite incomplete documents.

Officials in Hyderabad said it was like opening a can of worms when they perused files regarding the issuance of NOCs for these commercial structures, the issuance of affidavits, the issuance of short challans.

Among other serious allegations, the local government officers face the charges of not depositing the cheques submitted by the builders for various fees in the official bank accounts.

During investigations, officers of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the officers and staff of the Land Department were summoned for inquiry in NAB Hyderabad and their statements were also recorded. According to the records received from the Sindh Building Control Authority, the issuance of several NOCs was not only by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation but also by the Planning and Development Control (P&DC) Department of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA.

Similarly, during the construction of the multi-storey building on illegally changed residential into commercial plots, the Sindh Building Control Authority also collected betterment charges, of which 25 per cent was paid to HWSC.

However, during investigations, the corporation's officers failed to provide details of where did they put the betterment charges.

NAB had sent a letter to HWSC regarding the betterment charges collected by the corporation and utilization of the amount. HWSC deputy director admin sent a reply on behalf of the corporation, to which NAB's Assistant Director (Coordination) Umair Ahmed sent a letter on November 29 to HWSC director as a reminder. NAB's letter sent on November 5 and the one dated November 19, clarified that HWSC information and record in the letter sent was incomplete. Then the date was given as December 5, then 19th and then 24th.

HWSC said its board meeting was on December 24 and then there was public holiday on December 27 on account of Benazir Bhutto's anniversary. Therefore, they said that they would send a reply to NAB on December 31.