KARACHI, Sept 9: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has ordered release of Rs240 million to ensure supply of clean drinking water to Hyderabad and improve the sewerage system in the city.

He was presiding over a review meeting of the Sehwan Development Project and ongoing schemes of the Hyderabad Development Authority at the Governor House here on Thursday.

The governor directed officials concerned to improve the city's water supply and sewerage systems so that people could get some relief. The governor expressed dissatisfaction over delay in solving problems of people who had been allotted plots in Gulshan-i-Shahbaz, he called for a briefing on the issue at the next meeting.

Dr Ibad also expressed concern over supply of polluted water to several parts of Hyderabad and directed Water and Sanitation Agency officials to expedite work on improvement of the water supply system and sewerage.

He said once the fund of Rs240 million was received, the schemes would be completed within 6 months. He said funds had also been released previously to supply clean water to people of Hyderabad.

The governor said he himself would visit Hyderabad to review the projects and warned that negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. He was of the opinion that people themselves would come forward and pay taxes if Wasa ensured supply of clean water.

The governor was informed that Wasa's Rs60 million was outstanding against various government departments. It was pointed out that because of non-recovery of dues, canal desilting could not be carried out for the last six years and most of the machinery was out of order.

Regarding problems of Gulshan-i-Shahbaz, the governor was informed that 10,000 plots had been allotted and 70 per cent work of water supply, 57 per cent of roads and 20 per cent of power supply had been completed. The governor agreed with a proposal that a road from Kotri to Gulshan-i-Shahbaz and an overhead bridge on the railway line should be constructed. -APP