Rs5 billion to be handed over within a few days: CM

Govt approves Rs5 billion for the restoration of the irrigation system and repairs of embankments in Sindh.

KARACHI: The federal government has approved Rs5 billion for the restoration of the irrigation system and repairs of embankments in Sindh, said Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday. It is expected that the funds will be released by the federal finance department within a few days, he added.

The CM presided over a meeting held on Wednesday to discuss and review development schemes which are being planned. Seventy-six schemes worth Rs16 billion have already been approved by the Sindh government, for which one billion rupees have been released to the irrigation department.

Work will be assigned to big contractors who already have the equipment and can execute the schemes on time, said Shah.

President Asif Ali Zardari has constituted a three-member committee to supervise and monitor the renovation of bunds. The committee comprises Food Minister Nadir Magsi, Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Law Minister Muhmmad Ayaz Soomro.

Participants were informed that the Sindh finance department released funds to all departments on January 4, with instructions to complete the projects according to the priority-list fixed by the government.

Watan cards

So far, Watan cards have been issued to 542,860 flood-affected families, out of which 497,093 cards have been activated. A cumulative amount of Rs5.3 billion has been paid at the rate of Rs20,000 per family. More instalments are to follow. Shah said the payment process was disappointing and that the administration must shape up.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Rehabilitation Minister Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra said that since the Kharif season was about to start, the CM had directed officials to speed up the plugging of canals using conventional methods. Another meeting would be convened today (Thursday) with the District Coordination Officers of the seven districts that were badly hit by the flood so that a strategy could be devised to complete the repairs successfully.

Other projects

It was also decided that nine projects connected to providing clean water to Keamari and Lyari would be planned. Elected representatives of these areas have been invited to hand in suggestions within two weeks. Other schemes that were discussed included lining of Rohri Canal, Nara Canal, Dadu Canal, Rice Canal, the national programme for improvement of water courses, construction of a road from Gharo to Ketti Bunder, the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences and the Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV).

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd,  2011.