MITHI, Nov 14: The governor of Sindh, Mohammedmian Soomro, said the government is well aware of the fact that non-availability of potable water, recurrence of droughts, and lack of metalled roads are the core issues of Thar. “Hence, the government has devised a comprehensive plan for the upliftment of this region, which has plenty of mineral resources.”

Speaking at a meeting held with Nazims at Karoonjhar Hall on Wednesday, the governor said, “Thar has remained under-developed owing to improper planning in the past. However, it is the priority of the present regime to bring Thar at par with other developed parts of the country by initiating a mega-project of Rs199.40 million for supplying water from Naokot to Mithi through pipelines, besides constructing roads from Chhachhro to Islamkot, Mangtore to Meghar, Meghar to Akwado, and Mithi to Islamkot.”

He said that army authorities were monitoring the execution and quality of these development schemes.

He said that no stone would be left unturned for the redressal of the grievances of the people of Thar.

He announced a grant of Rs25,000 for the Mithi Press Club.

Our Sanghar correspondent adds: Governor Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro said: “We have little resources but the problems are numerous. The newly-introduced LB system also faces many problems. Power has been devoluted to the grass-root levels to ensure the participation of public in the government.”

He said this on Wednesday while addressing the Nazims, Naib Nazims and members of the local bodies at the district council hall.

He said that though there was a shortage of money but the elected members could manage with better management to solve at least the immediate problems with the available resources.

He suggested that by supervising the construction of buildings, roads and other development schemes they could save a lot which could be used in other projects.

Mr Soomro appreciated the police and citizens working in coordination due to which police succeeded in killing six dacoits on Oct 24.

On the demand of the district Naib Nazim, Dr Mehmood Ahmed Rajput, for promoting and rewarding those police officers and jawans who took part in the encounter and performed gallantly while fighting with the dacoits, he ordered the DCO to finalize the legal documentation for payment of financial rewards and promised to expedite the promotion of policemen who did an extraordinary job during the encounter.

He also ordered the irrigation officials to minimize rotation and make it judicious to help the farmers in sowing Rabi crops.

He promised to provide more funds for the Khushal Pakistan Programme, a digital telephone system at Khipro, filtration system for the water supply, and a grant for the overhead railway bridge at Tando Adam.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: Governor Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro said there was shortage of water and it will continue further. “However, the growers should adopt modern techniques for economic use of water.”

He said this while speaking at a meeting of Nazims and government officials at the State Life building on Wednesday.

He said that legal action would be taken against those irrigation officials who were found to be involved in corruption.

He said that the adhoc system had incurred a heavy loss on our economy.

He said that the government was not capable of giving support prices, therefore the growers themselves should come forward and form an organization to resolve their problems.

Regarding katcha abadis, Mr Soomro said that the government was paying attention to the problem.

He advised the people to launch low-cost housing schemes so that the poor could get houses with the money.

He announced that after December branches of the Khushali Bank and Micro Credit would be opened in Mirpurkhas.

He urged the elected representatives to prepare their budget according to their resources.

He said that the government was considering a special package which would be announced soon and the problem of water drainage would be solved after releasing of funds.

Responding to the complaints regarding water theft and mismanagement of the irrigation department, the governor said that he had issued directives to the authorities concerned that special teams be formed to conduct an inquiry regarding the complaints.

Talking about the ADBP recovery campaign, Mr Soomro said the ADBP will recover its loans from the defaulters, which will be reissued to the growers of the areas. He further said that the growers should pay their dues in time.

The district Nazim, Mirpurkhas, Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah Jilani, pointed out that there was lack of qualified staff and furniture in the offices and an acute shortage of water.