MANSEHRA: The nazims of village and neighbourhood councils in Mansehra have feared the `inefficiency` of the local government department will lead to the lapse of over Rs720 million development funds allocated for the district in the current fiscal.

`The nazims of almost all 194 village and neighbourhood councils in Mansehra have submitted development schemes to the local government department after their approval by the respective councils but the latter hasn`t even begun paperwork for their execution. As a result, we fear development funds valuing over Rs720 million will lapse as only four months are left tothe end of the current financial year,` Safada Village Council nazim Basharat All told reporters here on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a group of nazims, Mr. Ali said in the neighbouring Abbottabad district, the process to float tenders for development schemes in village and neighborhood councils was in final stage but ironically, the local government had yet to finalise schemes for Mansehra`s local bodies.

`We are tired of the inefficient and lethargic officials of the local government department,` he said.

The nazim said local government minister Inayatullah Khan had promised that the employees of thedepartment would make every effort to serve the people along with local government representatives, but the promise had so far been unfulfilled.

He said if development schemes weren`t executed on time, how the local government representatives would satisfy voters.

`We want early completion of the formalities for the execution of development projects approved by village and neighborhood councils.

Little time is left before the current financial year ends,` he said.

Employees appointed: The local government departmenthas appointed 130 low-grade employees to village and neighbourhood councils in Mansehra district.

The appointment letters in this respect were issued by an assistant director of the local government department here on Tuesday.

Officials in the l
`In the remaining 64 village and neighbourhood councils, the employees of the local government department have been adjusted. In this way, all 194 village and neighbourhood councils of Mansehra will have Class IV employees,` said an official.Correspondent