The conservation of Royal Trail Package-2, another project of Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA), is facing hurdles in its completion due to mismanagement of WCLA officials, Pakistan Today has learnt on Sunday.
Soon after the completion of Royal Trail Package-1, the WCLA started conservation work on package 2 in June 2015 with an aim to bring same improvements as in package-1.
An amount of Rs 720 million was allocated for this project with a completion time of two years, from Chowk Kotwali to Masti Gate.
Next month, the given time for the project will be ended but there seems no chance of completion of the project as WCLA officials remained fail to acquire specific land for the installation of electricity transformers.
Sources in the WCLA said that the project was facing hurdles as at the time of designing the project—Royal Trail Package-2—some officials misguided the project consultants regarding the acquisition of land.
“The project team was informed that there would be no problem in acquiring land and after this assurance the team designed the project to kick off the restoration work”, they said, adding that when the consultants started their work they faced problems because locals showed reservations regarding the project. However, they said that senior officials of WCLA with the help of city district government officials persuaded the locals regarding the project, which also included the installation of sewerage pipelines and electricity transformers.
For the completion of package-2, at least 25 transformers had to be installed at different sites within the designated area with a value of Rs 4 million each.
Sources said that WCLA also had submitted its plan to Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) for which LESCO has spread transmission lines in the area.
An official, on anonymity, alleged that before the execution of the project, Marketing Director Asif Zaheer assured the project team that he will acquire the required land for the project.
He said that almost all the land was acquired but WCLA failed to acquire land near Choona Mandi College so far, while an amount of 50 million was allocated for the land acquisition. Giving reason for the importance of that land, official said, “We had made the design of the project and this is impossible to change it as more than 70 per cent work has been done.”
Sources further revealed that the hurdles in acquiring lands were being created by the officials who wanted to get land to be sold over the actual rate. They said that the value of the required land is not more than rupees 10 million but a key official for obliging his dear ones want to procure land above than the actual price.
When contacted director marketing Asif Zaheer, he rejected allegation of creating hurdles in acquiring land while he also rejected the allegation that he wanted to oblige any one in procurement process. He said that he was director of marketing and had nothing to do with the land acquisition process as this was the responsibility of Engineering and Consultants departments.
WCLA Director General Kamran Lashri while talking to Pakistan Today confirmed that project is facing some hurdles because of unavailability of land, which is required according to the design. “I have said that if the said-land is necessary for the project then the authority is even ready to pay more money to the owners”, he said adding that but it would be paid on the decision of price evaluation committee.
On a question, he assured that if there would be chance of any corruption by its any official in land acquisition then he will be strictly dealt according to the rules.
