Majority buildings constructed illegally: Kabul mayor

KABUL members on Wednesday accused the Kabul mayor of corruption, while the mayor said strategy to root out corruption was being implemented in the Municipality.

The Lower House on Wednesday summoned Mayor Dawod Sultanzoy to ask him about corruption, construction of illegal buildings, lack of transparency in the free bread distribution process and other relevant matters.

A number of lawmakers complained about usurpation of state land, construction of illegal buildings, claiming corruption was institutionalized in the Kabul Municipality.

The mayor acknowledged corruption existed in the Kabul Municipality but said other government institutions were also rife with the menace.

He said new leadership of the municipality had adopted a strategy through which the menace of corruption would be eradicated.

Without elaborating, the mayor the strategy was being implemented in close coordination with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Attorney General Office (AGO).

“Dealing with illegal and unplanned buildings is above the power of the Municipality. We want cooperation of other government institutions to stop them. Most of the buildings have been constructed by powerful individuals or through their support,” he said.

He said since he took office three months back as mayor, no permission had been provided for construction of building or township.

He pledged not to allow any building or township until it has legal documents and complete necessary process.

Referring to alleged corruption in the free bread distribution process, the mayor said: “For 40 days I monitored the process. During nights I personally visited bakeries. In 40 days 317,000 families were provided with free bread.”

Sultanzoy said a total  of 117 million bread at the cost of 1.5 million afghanis had been distributed, adding that figures published in social media were wrong.

He said efforts were on to improve services of the municipality and cleanliness and greenery works would be offered to the private sector.

He added in coming three months, asphalting of Qala-i-Zaman Khan, Dasht-i-Barchi and Khaikhana Tunnel Raod would be started.

Nh/ma