ISLAMABAD: Officials of the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) are using delaying tactics to hold an inquiry into violations of the layout plan of Sunday bazaars set up in different sectors.

A couple of years ago, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) had ordered the DMA to fix responsibility for the violation of rules in allotment of stalls in Sunday bazaars which did not exist in their layout plans.

The DMA officials, against the spirit of transparency, did not hold balloting or competitive process rather allotted the stalls mainly for used items in the H-9 and other weekly bazaar.

Similarly, new stalls were also set up in G-10 bazaar in violation of the layout plan.Sources said when the matter was highlighted, the MCI set up a committee last year to hold an inquiry into the illegal allotment of stalls.

The sources said that some officials of the DMA allegedly received millions of rupees bribe from vendors for allotting them stalls. According to a notification issued on Sept 24 last year, `Probe into allotment of stalls in violations of layout plan and change of trader in weekly bazaars by the DMA` available with Dawn, the next meeting of the inquiry committee will be held on Sept 28 to review progress in the inquiry. However, later the matter witnessed lethargic approach from the of ficials concerned and itcould not be decided as yet.

The sources said that some elements in the DMA had been using delaying tactics in completion of the probe.A member of the inquiry committee also agreed that the probe had been facing delay, however, he claimed that there was no pressure on the committee. `We will complete it as soon as possible,` he said.

The sources said that more than 200 stalls allotted in violation of rules required a properinvesugadon.

They said the newly-created stalls in the H-9 bazaar were operating while those in the G-10 bazaar could not start operation due to litigation.

`I will ensure proper probe, let me check it out tomorrow,` said an officer of the civic agency.

Sunday bazaars were constructed by CDA and operated by the DMA. However, after the local government elections, the DMA was devolved to the MCI.

The sources said that besides illegal extensions, the bazaars were also facingother issues such as encroachment.

The officials said according to the SOP, the timing of the bazaar was from the morning till sunset, however, stallholders in connivance with the administration kept the bazaars open till night and for this purpose they used electricity generators and UPS which were a constant source of fire incidents.

Due to short circuit, on several occasions massive fires broke out in some bazaars, particularly in the H-9 Sunday bazaar.

`We are making all out efforts to implement the SOP,` an of ficer of the DMA said.

Director DMA Shakil Arshad also said he would look into the issue and will ensure completion of the inquiry report. `Being newly-appointed, I have no idea about the pending inquiry. Now, the matter has come into my notice and I will get the inquiry completed,` he said.