Dist uplift bodies want more powers

PESHAWAR, April 2: Unhappy with what they called 'limited' authority delegated through a recent legislation, chairmen of the district development advisory committees (DDACs) have asked the provincial government for more powers to recommend uplift schemes and check the quality of work. The chairmen of all the 21 DDACs had moved an application to Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti seeking more authority over planning and execution of uplift schemes at local level, MPA Alamgir Khan Khalil, chairman Peshawar DDAC told Dawn. The DDACs, consisting of MPAs, used to be influential bodies before the introduction of devolution of power plan, which dismantled the basic governance structure. The provincial government had revived these bodies on Nov 30 in line with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Establishment of District Development Advisory Committees (Amended) Act, 2010 passed by the provincial assembly on Sept 6. The DDACs had been restored but they were not given the authority that used to be part of the previous law, which made it mandatory for the government to get development plans approved from the DDACs before their execution. Under the new arrangements, limited role had been given to the DDACs in terms of planning and selection of uplift schemes in their respective districts, said Mr Khalil. "DDACs have no role in uplift schemes being executed by the departments at provincial level, as these bodies can only recommend projects against funds allocated to the districts under the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) award," Mr Khalil remarked, adding, "the quantum of this fund is so little that it can hardly meet the requirements of a district." The core provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP) is full of umbrella schemes, which leaves very little margin for the MPAs and planners to undertake projects according to their local priorities. "Umbrella schemes are subjected to the approval of chief minister, as it is his sole discretion to award a particular scheme or announce special uplift package for a particular district," he opined. MPA Baseer Ahmad Khattak, chairman Nowshera DDAC, told Dawn that these new bodies existed only on paper, as they did not have the authority to suggest any mega scheme or monitor the quality of work in their respective districts. "I cannot check quality of civil work despite the fact I know it is below standard because I don't have the authority to do so," Mr Khattak lamented. "People do visit us, but we are unable to address their problems because being chairman DDAC I am not authorised to execute even a small-scale scheme on people's demand," he said. The Nowshera DDAC had been given an office but no supporting staff, he said and added that other members, who happened to be provincial ministers, were also not taking any interest, whenever a meeting of this body was called mainly because it didn't have any power to recommend mega schemes. "Almost all the DDACs have similar problems and we are trying to get our voices heard," explained Mr Khattak, when asked about the joint application moved to the chief minister.