THATTA, Oct 15: The Coastal Development Authority, in coordination with the Asian Development Bank, has prepared feasibility reports of eight development schemes worth Rs3.3 billion for the coastal belt of Thatta and Badin districts, this correspondent has learnt from reliable sources.

The main objective of the schemes are poverty alleviation, improvement in fishing sector, provision of electricity and potable water and construction of roads and a jetty.

The sources said that after approval, work on the schemes would start in 2,006 after completion of surveys and other formalities, including release of funds. A feasibility has been prepared for cultivation of coconut and palm trees over 4,000 acres of coastal land at a cost of Rs650 million.

Another report on the establishment of a cold storage at the cost of Rs100 million for the preservation of fish catch has been prepared. The project includes a 120 kilometres long coastal road from Gharo to Shah Bundar at a cost of Rs1.6 billion. To link 17 creeks of both the coastal districts through a coastal road, a scheme worth Rs50 million has been prepared.

A feasibility report for provision of electricity to 100 coastal villages of both the districts through wind and solar hybrid system at the cost of Rs40 million has also been prepared. Another report of a project aimed at improving fishing sector at the cost of Rs40 million has been prepared.

Another scheme is aimed at provision of potable water to 40 coastal villages and construction of a jetty in Shah Bundar, Thatta district. To finalise the schemes, an ADB mission has made two detailed visits to the deltaic regions of both the districts.

Thatta District Nazim Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi has said that execution of the schemes would bring prosperity in the areas and help alleviate poverty.