HYDERABAD, Jan 19: DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed has said that Rs600 million has been earmarked to undertake development schemes under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance programme-II in the district.

He was speaking at a meeting held here on Tuesday to discuss ways to launch the programme in the district at the Shahbaz building here on Tuesday.

The DCO said that the federal government took keen interest in developing drought-affected areas by providing job opportunities to their people and raising their living standard.

He said that under the programme, priority would be given to projects related to agriculture, livestock, irrigation, environmental improvement, cottage industries and industrial homes.

He said that the government had prepared a comprehensive national programme and earmarked Rs30 billion for this purpose, adding that Sindh province would get 30 percent out of 85 per cent of the amount reserved for the provinces whereas the rest of 15 per cent would be spent in federal areas.

He said that Hyderabad would be provided Rs600 million to undertake sustainable projects and directed the officers concerned to identify projects and invite the community to participate in implementing and monitoring the projects.

He said that Sindh, especially Hyderabad, had potential and rich resources for cottage industries such as handicrafts and asked the officers concerned to prepare a plan to encourage the traditional crafts under the programme.

He also stressed that agriculture support programme be prepared for provision of agricultural inputs, rehabilitation of grazing land, prevention of desertification, raising of orchards and introduction of low delta and high value crops and cropping technologies.

Similarly, due attention be paid to livestock-oriented projects and schemes of drinking water and healthcare should be identified and implemented in the backward areas, the DCO said.

In order to attract public participation, Mr Syed said that seminars at taluka level be arranged for the awareness of the people. He said that the Hyderabad district government had established a coordination cell to receive proposals and strategies from public and private sectors and hoped that within few weeks, a consolidated development programme would be chalked out.

Development expert M. H. Panhwar, former MPA Ghani Dars and the EDOs of the works and services, community development and agriculture departments and other officers attended the meeting.