0
LARKANA, Oct 16: Millions of rupees will be totally wasted if the construction work on 22 Basic Health Units (BHUs), maternity homes, and dispensaries is left half-way. Work on most of these had either been started in 1992 or 1998.
Work on 15 BHUs had stopped either due to the ground being too rocky or the funds being exhausted, the sources in the health department told this scribe on Monday, adding that these projects had been undertaken during the previous tenure of the PPP Government.
The buildings department had been entrusted the job of constructing these health units but almost all the projects were abandoned half-way.
The health department time and again approached the department concerned but in vain.
Construction work on the following BHUs has to be completed: Haji Dadhro, Kothi, Veehar, Muhammed Khan Kalhoro, Karani, Wasayo Bhutto, Saidodero, Hamal, Saddik Machi, Miandad Chingni, Wadho Kalhoro, Muhammed Khan Bhutto, Ghulam Kambar Jatoi, Gaibidro, and Khabbar. Besides, work on five dispensaries in Aarija, Bahman, Jain Abro, Daffar, Mehro Khan Junejo, and two maternity homes in Mirokhan and Ratodero too have been abandoned due to the non-availability of funds.
The sources said in certain cases the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had registered cases regarding the buildings as they had developed cracks due to the utilization of sub-standard material during their construction.
The Wapda continued sending power bills even while construction work on the buildings had not been completed.
The buildings department was being pressed for the early completion of the BHUs, dispensaries, and maternity homes but the officials concerned were always coming out with one excuse or another, said a health official, and added, in some cases even the contractors had refused to undertake the leftover work due to the remote nature of the area.
TWO INJURED: Two workers of the JUI, Haji M Qasim Jatoi and Jumman Khan Brohi, who were injured on Sunday in Jacobabad during anti-US protests, had been admitted in the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital. Doctors in the hospital said on Tuesday that their condition was improving.
DACOITS HELD: Nasirabad police have arrested seven dacoits and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.
The SSP of Nasirabad, Ghulam Asghar Shaikh, told this correspondent on Tuesday that the arrested bandits had been active in Sindh and Balochistan for a long time and from their possession two double-barrel guns, two single barrel guns and two TT pistols were recovered.
He said they were involved in many cases of heinous nature.
The bandits were identified as Qasim Buledi, Sabir Hussain Umrani, Ayaz Ahmed Umrani, Karim Bakhsh Pindrani, Khuda Bakhsh Bughti, Tahir Gajani and Rajib Ali Bhatti.
He claimed to have rounded up a gang of car lifters and outlaws in different raids and from their possession 10 Kalashnikovs and a large quantity of live bullets were recovered along with five Suzuki cars, seven motorcycles, three Datsun pick-ups and three tractors. They are Nadir Khan, Dad Mohammed, Abdul Hamid Kakar, Ghulam Nabi and Jan Mohammed.
Meanwhile Larkana police have arrested 24 absconders on Tuesday in the district, said a press release issued by the SSP. The drive against absconders and proclaimed offenders continued in the district, the sources said.
