HYDERABAD, Oct 21: A committee of the district council inquiring into allotment of government land by the Hyderabad Development Authority has expressed its dissatisfaction over documents presented by the HDA director-general.

The six-member committee which met here on Thursday mentioned violations of rules and regulations in the matter by the HDA.

It observed that no approval had been sought from the district or the Sindh government regarding allotment of 1,100 square yards plot adjacent to the HDA's Thandi Sarak waterworks.

District council convener Nawab Rashid Ali Kan had formed the committee, comprising Rana Mehmood Ali Khan, Mohammad Yusuf Qureshi, Khushnud Ali Khan, Abdul Majeed Wahidi, Syed Ali Mohammad Shah and Babu Mohammad Ilyas, on Jan 31. Except for Babu Ilyas, all members were present at the meeting.

The HDA secretary in a letter earlier in January had informed the council that a strip of barren land of the civic centre had been allotted to Brig (rtd) Ghulam Rasool Memon by then HDA director-general Mishraz Ahmad Siddiqui at Rs1,100 per month till June 30, 2005, for establishment of a nursery by following the HMC's rules. However, then DCO accept a proposal for installation of a petrol pump for 30 years in favour of Mr Memon for Rs18,000 per month. The district nazim, however, approved another higher offer of Rs65,000 per month for five years in favour of Mehdi K. Lavji with the condition that he would get the plot vacated on his own from possession of the first tenant.

The HDA secretary said it was in fact a case of enhancement of rent and not disposal of land.

HDA director-general Tahir Ahmad and Building Control director Masood Jumani presented documents of the case before the committee, which expressed its dissatisfaction, saying the required procedure had not been followed by the HDA and the district nazim.

The committee noted that neither any offer had been sought through advertisement from general public nor any approval had been given by the district or the Sindh government as per the Sindh Local Government Ordinance.

A member said the DCO had called for review of the matter and added that the Qasimabad Taluka Municipal Administration had given a small piece of land along the Wadahu Wah for Rs50,000 per month whereas the HDA land, situated at a prime location, had been given for Rs65,000.

He also referred to a notification of the local government department of May 7, 2003, stating that the HDA had to seek approval either from the district government or the local government department because its control had been given to the district government while its devolution was in progress.

Another member said officials of the HDA claimed that they could strike such an agreement because it was an autonomous body and did not need permission from the district council.

When contacted, the HDA director-general avoided disclosing details of the matter and said the record had been presented before the committee.

The inquiry committee would submit its report at the district council session scheduled for Oct 25 for further proceedings.

The matter had been raised at the council on a point of order by Yousuf Qureshi, questioning allotment of two plots of HDA.