HYDERABAD, Dec 9: Encroachments on all the roads have made people’s life miserable and they are unable to comprehend the TMA obsession with pre-historic reptiles. The Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) is taking more interest in ‘beautification’ of the city than addressing this basic issue.

The TMA city seemed to have turned a blind eye to the problem or was reluctant to enforce its writ for some unknown reasons.

Encroachments of different kinds and in different shapes continued to crop up on all the main arteries and under the very nose of the TMA city not only to pollute the environment but also to destroy asphalt roads, recently built by the district government at a huge cost.

It’s been over two years since the local bodies election but the TMA city seemed to have made no progress towards the removal of encroachments despite having a separate staff for the purpose.

The TMA has now, however, preferred its “beautification plan” over this issue.

Perhaps the TMA didn’t find anything, for beautification purpose, better than a giant dinosaur (an extinct reptile of prehistoric era) which has become a talk of the town.

What otherwise could have been properly displayed in municipal zoo—which was undergoing an upgradation—the dinosaur has been placed right in front of Liaquat University Hospital at a cost of around Rs 300,000.

“How does its display in the centre of the city relate to the beautification or are we living in a zoo?” asked a concerned citizen.

He asked what sort of message does the TMA wants to convey by putting this horrible dinosaur which had become extinct around 65 million years ago in the centre of the city. “While it can signify scare but not beauty,” he said.

Liberty roundabout is one of those venues where Eid congregations are also held and people now raising questions whether in the presence of this dinosaur will they be able to offer Eid prayers.

The sincerity of TMA city in tackling the encroachment issue could be gauged from the fact that right in front of TMA offices shopkeepers of electronic market have encroached upon footpath and newly built drain to leave no space for pedestrians.

Not only this all the main roundabouts, like, Hyder Bux Jatoi (Gari Khata), Faqir Ka Pir, Market tower roundabouts, are surrounded by pushcarts. In main bazaars the shopkeepers have built additional structures to expand their shops to squeeze the space further.

Owners of all eateries start blocking main roads in Hirabad, Liberty roundabout, Miani Road, Risala roads or roundabouts without any check by TMA officials. They are minting money at the cost of poor residents of this city, who found themselves struck in traffic jams or pedestrians have no space to walk.

Taluka Nazim city claimed that he is facing shortage of anti-encroachment staff and he is handling affair with eight to nine staff members to take care of his taluka, comprising 20 UCs. He said that a proposal has been sent to Sindh government and approval is awaited. He said that district government is also helping them in beautification programme while TMA had allocated Rs2 million in its budget.

TMA sources, however, said that TMA’s anti-encroachment staff was also not willing to enforce its writ unless strictly directed.

“Who will be interested in the beautification plan unless such basic problems are resolved that are defacing the city while TMA is looking the other way”, said a disappointed Haq Parast nazim.