Only 33% of local govt funds allocated for development in Sindh

Rs300m to be spent on setting up six garbage transfer stations in Karachi

KARACHI: The majority of the spending from the Rs78 billion allocated for the Sindh local government department in the provincial annual budget 2020-21 is to constitute grant expenditure, with just 33 percent of the funds being reserved for development projects.

This year, the funds for the department have been scaled up by five per cent from Rs74.5 billion reserved for it in the last budget, with the lion's share - 55 per cent - appropriated for grant spending, against Rs12.17 billion, constituting 33 per cent of the amount, set aside for the provincial annual development programme (ADP). Under the provincial ADP, Rs7.69 billion has been kept for foreign-funded projects.

Besides, Rs15 billion is appropriated for the district ADP, under which Rs1.65 billion is to be spent on foreign funded projects.

Water and sanitation

From the funds reserved for the department, the Sindh government has allocated Rs7.32 billion for the public health engineering department, acknowledging its role in ensuring the supply of clean drinking water. Of this amount, Rs4.63 billion has been set aside for the upkeep and operation of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration plants in Sindh, including Rs868.10 million for the plants in Lyari and Keamari.

Separately, Rs11.59 billion has been reserved on account of the sector's development, with Rs3.03 billion to be spent on the rehabilitation of non-functional water supply and drainage schemes and Rs2.18 billion on putting an end to discharging sewerage into lakes and irrigation canals.

Waste disposal and management

Funds worth Rs5.55 billion have been appropriated for the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and Rs300 million, under development funds, has been set aside for garbage disposal and management in Karachi.

The amount reserved for waste disposal in the provincial capital is to be spent on establishing six garbage transfer stations, transferring waste to garbage dumps, and refuse-derived fuel facilities that produce fuel from domestic and business waste.

Development projects

Besides development initiatives pertaining to the public health engineering sector and establishing garbage transfer stations in Karachi, Rs330.11 million are to be spent on Competitive and Livable City of Karachi project- a five-year scheme launched in collaboration with the World Bank that aims at carrying out a detailed property survey of the metropolis.

Moreover, Rs1.94 billion has been set aside for a mega project for Karachi. Of this amount, Rs547.31 million will be used for the construction and remodelling of 12000 Road in Landhi, Korangi and Rs198.80 million will be used for laying a sewerage line between Star Gate and Chakora nullah.

The provincial government further plans to spend Rs1.62 billion on housing and town planning and Rs266.74 million on initiatives taken in relevance to katchi abadis [slum areas].

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2020.