HYDERABAD, Oct 17: The Sindh government has yet to decide how to shift 260 families living in proximity of the Pucca Qila's fortification wall , which has been declared dangerous, despite the fact that a summary has been presented by the district government on the president's promise to grant Rs50 million for their rehabilitation.

Moreover, these families have rejected offer of the building control and taluka municipal authorities to shift them to camps and, as such, have been hazarding their lives in danger, given the condition of the wall. Their refusal to shift to temporary camps seems genuine since food or even drinking water is not provided there.

Inquiries by this correspondent reveal that 260 houses have been categorized A, B, C and D in view of their condition during a joint survey conducted by the building control department, Union Council-8 Nazim Saleem Khan and Taluka City Nazim Moinuddin Sheikh. Categories A and B include those houses which are in dangerous condition, whereas category C lists those which are dangerous but not likely to collapse, and category D mentions houses situated within 16 feet of the wall.

Assistant director of the Archaeology department, Javed Ahmed Khan, describing the mention of 16 feet during different meetings as a typographical mistake, referred to section 22 of the Antiquity Act 1975, according to which, no development plan, scheme or construction on or within 200 feet of a protected immovable antiquity shall be undertaken or executed, except with approval of the director-general.

The entire fort was in a dilapidated state, but the department was unable to start repair or renovation work under the circumstances, he argued.

The houses were built in violation of the Act, whereas the fort itself and its wall have not been maintained over the years.

The archaeology department has expressed its inability to do so unless encroachments in and around the wall are removed. Parts of the wall have collapsed at different points, and one such incident has already claimed three lives.

Several meetings were held under the chairmanship of the then commissioner, and a committee was formed to identify dangerous parts of the fort; advice affected people to take necessary precautions; find causes of deterioration; propose short- and long-terms solutions; suggest restoration and preservation measures; and monitor execution of restoration work. Findings of the committees were never revealed.

Following another meeting in 2000, Hyderabad Development Authority staff, along with highway and archaeology officials, marked spaces to vacate a 16-foot-wide corridor. Demolition of the houses was postponed on account of expected protest. Another proposal to shift the families to the Junejo colony also did not work.

Union Council-8 Nazim Saleem Khan, while urging the government not to take the matter lightly, said that he had taken a statement from some residents that if any harm came to them, they would themselves be responsible.

During the recent rains, people refused to be shifted to a nearby school on the request of the building control department as well as the taluka municipal administration, saying they needed permanent accommodation, he added.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, on request of the taluka city nazim of Hyderabad, had announced Rs50 million for rehabilitation of the families, and the district government had decided to build apartments for the people opposite the Building Control office.

Following a meeting on July 21, a survey was conducted by the building control department which revealed that 49 houses were in very dangerous condition and needed to be demolished immediately, whereas 85 were in dilapidated condition. Presently, 1,206 people reside in the vicinity.

The summary was pending decision by the Sindh government since months, said District Nazim Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, and remarked that the district government had been absolved of its responsibility in case of any disaster or unpleasant incident.

The question remained as to where these people should be shifted in absence of permanent rehabilitation, he said and added that it was up to the Sindh government to take the matter seriously since it involved human life.