Barkatullah Marwat
PESHAWAR: Despite defects, the newly- constructed building of the district jail in Lakki Marwat was inaugurated by Minister of Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain during his visit to the area on October 8.
The prison was constructed at a cost of Rs170 million on 185 kanals of land in the District Headquarters Township in Tajazai. Sources said that prior to its inauguration, the officials of Communication and Works (C&D) Department and some local politicians were pushing the Prisons Department to take over the building, but the jail authorities were reluctant to do so due to certain flaws in its construction.
The jail authorities objected to its design and claimed the material used in its construction was substandard. The standard of the building material could be judged from the fact that one of its watch towers fell following a windstorm. It was later repaired but it put a question mark on strength of three other towers.
The sources said the water seepage had started from the tanks over the barracks and the toilets were also damaged. The electrification in the jail building was also not properly carried out. “When we try to switch on the bulb, the fan starts functioning,” an employee remarked. The sources said that about 26 contractors had been involved in the construction of the jail and now all avoid visiting it when called to carry out repairs in the building.
After publication of a story in The News on April 14, the C&W officials expedited the efforts to hand over the mega project to the Prisons Department.
The sources said Inspector General of Prisons Qudratullah Marwat also pointed out some defects to the provincial government during his visit to the jail. Subsequently, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti sent a Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) to confirm the flaws pointed out by the IG Prisons.
Interestingly, the PIT also confirmed the flaws in the building and noted that the material used in the construction of the jail was sub-standard.” It further stated that the design made by the C&W Department was not according to the one given by the Prisons Department.
The chief minister, who also holds the portfolio of the Communication and Works Department, during a meeting to review the developmental projects made it clear to the officials that use of substandard material in construction of buildings, roads and bridges would not be tolerated.
When contacted, the jail superintendent Gul Alam Khan said 141 prisoners had been shifted to the new jail and at the moment only 30 security personnel had been deployed. Regarding the capacity of the jail, the superintendent said about 500 prisoners and 150 jail staff in addition to 1,000 security personnel would be accommodated in the jail.
When contacted, Chief Engineer Usman Khan Marwat said without the approval of the jail authorities the C&W Department could not execute the project and alter its design. About the use of substandard material, he said the jail authorities and government officials could inspect the building of the district jail and point out the flaws.
Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain when contacted said: “I visited the prison and went inside the building and found everything in proper order.” He added that there might be some flaws in the building but all had been rectified.
Email: bumarwat@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Lakki admin yet to compensate affectees
Barkatullah Marwat
LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration is yet to carry out an accurate assessment of the losses suffered by the flood victims and distribute Watan cards to the genuine affectees. The News learnt that Jogi Killay in Pezu town, comprising 1,200 houses, suffered 90 percent damage and destruction in the July-August floods and torrential rains.
Following the directives of the government, the district administration carried out assessment of the damage in the district but still there are some areas that were ignored. The residents of Jogi Killay complained that the flood swept away their houses but the patwari sent by the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel did not collect accurate information on the damage caused by the floods.
They said the patwari didn’t do a proper job and many genuine affectees were ignored. They said majority of the villagers had allegedly been deprived of the right of compensation extended by the federal and provincial governments.
Giving details of the damage, a resident Mosam Khan son of Jalat Khan said four rooms and boundary wall of his house were damaged in the flood but he wasn’t compensated. “Who will compensate us when the patwari didn’t visit my house to assess the losses?” he asked.
Shah Nawaz son of Ayaz Khan complained that four rooms and wall of his house were washed away in the torrential rains while Mir Abbas, son of Badshah Khan, said that his five rooms and wall had been destroyed in the flood. Both complained that they were unable to convey the details of their losses to the government, as the patwari did not visit their village.
Zainuddin son of Gulab Khan said three rooms and wall of his house were destroyed while Farid son of Sanam Khan said his entire house was swept away in the flood but were yet to be compensated.
Other villagers who claimed to have suffered damages in the rains and floods and weren’t compensated included Amir Nawaz losing three rooms and wall, Inshaullah, three rooms, Aliullah, two rooms, Raees Khan two rooms and boundary wall, Hashim Khan, two rooms and wall, Raza Khan, two rooms, Said Hassan, two rooms and wall, Jan Muhammad, two rooms and wall, Zarwali, three rooms and wall, Karim Khan, two rooms and Mir Badshah.
An official in the district administration, pleading anonymity, said the Watan cards had been issued and distributed unfairly among the people.
He said most of the patwaris tasked to collect the information on the losses had not performed their duty accurately and honestly.
The official said the patwaris forwarded the information of those people who bribed them or enjoyed strong recommendation. When contacted, the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel said: “Never call me again for comments,” and hang up his phone.
Email: bumarwat@gmail.com
LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration is yet to carry out an accurate assessment of the losses suffered by the flood victims and distribute Watan cards to the genuine affectees. The News learnt that Jogi Killay in Pezu town, comprising 1,200 houses, suffered 90 percent damage and destruction in the July-August floods and torrential rains.
Following the directives of the government, the district administration carried out assessment of the damage in the district but still there are some areas that were ignored. The residents of Jogi Killay complained that the flood swept away their houses but the patwari sent by the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel did not collect accurate information on the damage caused by the floods.
They said the patwari didn’t do a proper job and many genuine affectees were ignored. They said majority of the villagers had allegedly been deprived of the right of compensation extended by the federal and provincial governments.
Giving details of the damage, a resident Mosam Khan son of Jalat Khan said four rooms and boundary wall of his house were damaged in the flood but he wasn’t compensated. “Who will compensate us when the patwari didn’t visit my house to assess the losses?” he asked.
Shah Nawaz son of Ayaz Khan complained that four rooms and wall of his house were washed away in the torrential rains while Mir Abbas, son of Badshah Khan, said that his five rooms and wall had been destroyed in the flood. Both complained that they were unable to convey the details of their losses to the government, as the patwari did not visit their village.
Zainuddin son of Gulab Khan said three rooms and wall of his house were destroyed while Farid son of Sanam Khan said his entire house was swept away in the flood but were yet to be compensated.
Other villagers who claimed to have suffered damages in the rains and floods and weren’t compensated included Amir Nawaz losing three rooms and wall, Inshaullah, three rooms, Aliullah, two rooms, Raees Khan two rooms and boundary wall, Hashim Khan, two rooms and wall, Raza Khan, two rooms, Said Hassan, two rooms and wall, Jan Muhammad, two rooms and wall, Zarwali, three rooms and wall, Karim Khan, two rooms and Mir Badshah.
An official in the district administration, pleading anonymity, said the Watan cards had been issued and distributed unfairly among the people.
He said most of the patwaris tasked to collect the information on the losses had not performed their duty accurately and honestly.
The official said the patwaris forwarded the information of those people who bribed them or enjoyed strong recommendation. When contacted, the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel said: “Never call me again for comments,” and hang up his phone.
Email: bumarwat@gmail.com
Consumers forced to pay for repair of transformers
Barkatullah Marwat
LAKKI MARWAT: Consumers in most areas in Lakki Marwat district were being forced to pay for the repair of out-of-order electricity transformers.
During a visit to Mash Habibullah and Jogi Wanda villages, the residents expressed concern over the apathetic attitude of the local authorities of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) for not repairing the defective transformers.
Talking to The News, the elders of Mash Habibullah village including Gul Tiaz, Delawar Khan, Sabz Ali Khan, Jan Amir, Habibullah and Abaz Ali Khan said their village had 300 houses and they were paying their utility bills regularly.
They said they had been paying for the repair of the lone electricity transformer of 100 KV installed in their village. “We collect Rs8000 to 10,000 when the transformer develops a fault to carry out repairs,” Habibullah said.
He said most villagers were poor and unable to pay the amount and the rich villagers had to pay more to foot the bill. They said the village elders visited the office of the Pesco Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to request for the repairs of the faulty transformer that had been out of order for the last week but to no avail.
In reply to a question, the elders said the villagers had been paying their electricity bills and there was no question of power theft in the village. Village elder Abaz Ali Khan asked for how long they would have to pay for the repair of the transformer out of our own pockets.
When the office of Pesco’s Executive Engineer in Lakki Marwat was contacted, someone introducing himself as Waheed Khan said that none of the consumers had visited the office for registering complaint.
“Pesco cannot afford to repair the faulty transformers in the villages anymore,” he said, adding that the consumers were nowadays collecting money for the repair of the transformers. He said the village transformer was overloaded as it was supplying to 300 consumers. He felt a transformer could properly meet the needs of 100 houses only.
When the issue was brought into the notice of the provincial Director Public Relations for Pesco, Shaukat Afzal, he said: “Kindly check with the villagers as they are entitled to get the repair of the transformer through the Pesco if they pay monthly bills regularly.”
Email: bumarwat@gmail.com
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