HYDERABAD, July 23: Taluka nazims of the district on Friday demanded that the Hyderabad Development Authority and the Water and Sanitation Agency should be devolved to the taluka level.

Speaking at a meeting with Sindh Chief Secretary Aslam Sanjrani at the district nazim secretariat, they said that construction of roads would serve no purpose unless sewerage system was improved.

Moin Sheikh, Abdul Jabbar Khan, Noor Mohammad Shoro, Abid Yousuf Bachani, Ghulam Ali Gopang and Sodhal Shah attended the meeting. The chief secretary was urged that the devolution of HDA and WASA should be decided immediately because it had been three years now that city-based taluka nazims had been demanding administrative control of the two civic bodies.

Latifabad Taluka Nazim Abdul Jabbar Khan said Rs241 million of governor's grant had lapsed as the project director concerned was not given disbursing authority to utilize funds.

He claimed that three children drowned in drains but the boundary walls of these drains had not been constructed. He said TMAs could not utilize their funds for some development works of WASA and HDA due to some legal hitches.

The nazim claimed the chief secretary had supported his contention regarding the devolution of HDA and WASA. City Taluka Nazim Moin Sheikh said that he had reminded the chief secretary that Rs11.9 million of liabilities were to be paid by the taluka municipal administration and the prime minister in his visit to the city had promised to clear dues but the matter was still pending.

He said he told the chief secretary about unresolved issues of the girls college in Bakra Mandi and Rs50 million grant for shifting of residents of the Pacca Qilla. Mr Sheikh said that the chief secretary directed the DCO to send him summaries regarding girls college and liabilities of TMAs whereas the district nazim was urged to put forward the case of Pacca Qilla residents.

PPO: The provincial police officer of Sindh has failed to submit his inquiry report in the kidnapping case of a 14-year-old girl to the Sindh High Court Hyderabad, circuit bench, despite lapse of one month.

Justice Azizullah Memon of the SHC bench on June 21 ordered the PPO to hold an inquiry into kidnapping of the minor girl, Nayab, and submit his report within 30 days before the court.

Her father Abdul Rasheed Memon alleged that because of the involvement of SP (investigation) Hyderabad, Fareed Jan Sarhandi, in the matter, a delay was being caused in the recovery of his daughter.

The court had directed the investigating officer of the case to submit relevant papers to the PPO within three days so that he could submit a report as to whether he felt satisfied with the investigation report or efforts made for the girl's recovery.

The court had said that the PPO should inform it whether or not he deemed it fit that disciplinary action be taken against police officers concerned for failing to trace out the girl. However, so far no report has been brought on record and the matter remains pending.