The caretaker govt approved de-notification of 1000 kanal of land acquisition for establishment of Medical City comprising 14 Medical Institutions
Falak Sher
MARDAN
The mayor of Mardan, Himayatullah Mayar, has written a letter to the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, asking him to withdraw the decision of the caretaker government to handed over 1000 kanal back to its owners due to lack of funds.
In the letter, the mayor stated that the Deputy Commissioner Mardan letter No.14/L.A.Cell dated 23-02-2024 is in the process of implementation of decision of caretaker provincial cabinet taken on December, 11th 2023 while in light of this office letter No.316 dated 12-06-2023 and No.430 dated 18-12-2023, the undersigned time and again highlighted the issue of de-notification of 1000 kanal of land acquisition for establishment of Medical City at Mardan and withdrawal of approved scheme of Khyber Institute of Neuro Sciences and Clinical Research (KINAR) Mardan is great injustice with the people of Mardan in particular and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general.
He added that the caretaker government has approved de-notification of 1000 kanal of land acquisition for establishment of Medical City comprising 14 Medical Institutions.
Now the Deputy Commissioner has initiated proceedings for return of the acquired land to the owners of the land in light of the decision of the caretaker cabinet.
The present provincial government has decided in its recent meeting to shift the approved scheme of KINAR to Peshawar. Both these steps are completely unacceptable and considered great injustice with the people of Mardan.
The said 1000 kanal of land was acquired in year 2009 by ANP led Provincial Government for establishment of Bacha Medical College and other Medical Institutions, the Medical College was constructed on premises of Mardan Medical Complex while about 14 medical Health Services Institutions along with Sports Complex and Residential Colony were proposed on the said land mentioned as Medical City of Mardan. The Master Plan was prepared through NESPAK Consultants and submitted to the ANP led Government which was approved and included in the ADP 2012/13.
The Master Plan comprises of establishment of Medical University, Dental College, Dental Hospital, Cancer Hospital, KINAR, College of Nursing, College of Medical Technologies, PIPOS, Paraplegic Institute, Burn Centre, Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Provincial Forensic Lab, Institute of RADIOTherapy, Hostels, Sports Complex, STP and Residential Colony.
These schemes are highly feasible and much needed though more projects are needed to cope with the current health challenges and requirements that will definitely improve health services at Mardan.
The funds for land acquisition were provided and paid to the owners of the 1000 kanal land as per assessment of yearly average price of the land in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act but later on the owners filed references in the Court and the price was enhanced.
The Government paid a partial amount of the enhanced price as well but failed to provide and pay the remaining enhanced amount rather opted to de-notify the land acquisition.
The proposal for de-notification of the land acquisition was cropped up in the government of PTI and deliberations were made in Cabinet meetings but in the meanwhile the assembly was dissolved. The caretaker government approved de-notification of the land acquisition and now it is in the process of implementation.
The undersigned being Mayor Mardan, has written several letters to caretaker chief minister, elected chief minister, chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and elected Members of provincial, National assembly and Senate from Mardan to take up the issue at relevant forums and to continue with the plans/schemes as per its approved master plan and to retain the acquired land by arranging funds for payment to the land owners.
The City Local Council Mardan has passed several resolutions and demanded from the Provincial Government to carry on with the projects in the best interest of the people of Mardan.
The De-Notification at this stage is tantamount to depriving Mardan of development opportunities and snatching of health facilities and services which are essential services for the people.
The elected representatives of Mardan in particular and the people at large of Mardan are requested and required to abort this move of the provincial government in the best larger interest of the people.
