September 29, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 21, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Sept 28: Development funds of the Sarhad Rural Support Programme, allocated for the improvement and rehabilitation of water  sources and community water supply schemes in Karak district, have been released for failed and old schemes.

The SRSP officials released big amounts to community organizations against unfeasible or old water supply schemes, sources  informed Dawn.

The officials okayed projects, like wells, hand-pumps, community water tanks and supply lines, in certain areas contrary to the feasibility reports  to oblige the village-based organizations at the cost of the communities in stark need of potable water and other civic amenities, they said.

An SRSP official, Engineer Pazeer Mohammad,  when  contacted, said the old schemes were taken in hand for rehabilitation. No funding was made for the old schemes carried out with the help of community organizations to rehabilitate the water sources, he said and claimed that funds were released against fresh projects only.

The  SRSP has also failed to keep check on the selection and execution  of projects according to the technical specifications as in several cases funds were released against schemes which failed to meet the communities’ water requirements.

When asked, the official claimed that as he was posted to the district recently, he could not give any explanation for the funding.

According to sources, the SRSP approved a dug well scheme with an estimated cost of Rs228,000 in the Eisak Chotra union council. As per the site specification, the project cost Rs60,000, but the SRSP officials released the whole amount without looking into the viability of the scheme, which could never be made functional.

A big amount was allegedly swindled on an old water supply line and  a community water tank in the same area with the officials showing the  two schemes as new projects, the sources claimed.

In Kanda and Kanda Sharqi areas near the Karak town, dozens of hand-pumps have been approved and executed without any need. In most of  the cases, the hand-pumps are clustered around a few houses, while the communities facing water shortage have been left out.

The community-based organizations have also defrauded the SRSP of thousands of rupees in the name of fresh water supply projects with the connivance of some officials, the sources alleged.