Under development: CM gets update on fishermen colonies

Fisheries department launches fishermen colonies in Keenjhar, Manchhar and Zero-point Badin

KARACHI: Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has demanded the fisheries and livestock department complete the fishermen colony in Manchhar by the end of May so that it can be inaugurated.

"I want the fishermen to be settled there as soon as possible," he said. He issued this directive while presiding over a joint meeting of the fisheries and livestock, and the planning and development departments. Finance secretary Sohail Rajput also attended the meeting along with Fisheries and Livestock Minister Jam Khan Shoro, principal secretary to the chief minister Alamuddin Bullo, additional chief secretary of development Waseem Ahmed and fisheries and livestock secretary Noor Mohammad Leghari.

Shoro told the chief minister that the fisheries department has launched fishermen colonies at Keenjhar, Manchhar and Zero-point Badin at a cost of Rs482 million. Each colony has 100 housing units. Along with two-room units, a corridor and courtyard with toilets, each colony has a community centre, a mosque, school and dispensary.

He said that the colony established in Manchhar has almost been completed, with 78 housing units already constructed. The colony at Keenjhar is ready to be inaugurated but a portion of its civil work has yet to be completed. "This colony has the distinction of having its own RO plant to provide sweet water to the residents while it also has a community centre, mosque, dispensary and school," he said. Upon hearing this, the chief minister asked the minister to fix the inauguration date and hand over the allotment letters to the fishermen.

On Shoro's request, the CM ordered the finance department to release the required funds to the livestock department so that it could be completed by the end of next month. The fishermen colony at Keenjhar is located on the main road leading to Hyderabad.

Speaking about the fishermen colony of Zero-point Badin, Shoro told the chief minister that 78 housing units have been completed. "The plastering of the walls and other touch-ups are in progress. It will be completed by the end of December 2015," he assured.

Shoro said the livestock ministry has launched these schemes for Rs1.4 billion. Under the scheme, 25 shaded areas are being established in each colony where about 100 cattle could be kept in good conditions.

These colonies, excluding the one in Khairpur, will be completed by the end of this financial year. "The farmers will be given [shaded areas] with an attendant room and a store room on a 30-year extendable lease on easy installments." he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2015.