SUKKUR, Oct 21: The Secretary Agriculture, Sindh, Mr Nazar Hussain Mahar, has said that the Sindh National Programme for Improvement of Water Courses was the responsibility of the district government which should take keen interest and give such task for its completion to the revenue officers in order to achieve the desired results.

Holding a meeting with DCOs of Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Naushahroferoze and Shikarpur and the project officers of Improvement of Water Courses and On-farm Water Management to review progress of the work at Circuit House here on Friday, Mr Mahar expressed dissatisfaction over the performance and observed that due to slow pace of lining of watercourses in Sindh, an amount of Rs15 million instead of Rs30 million meant for the province, could be utilised.

He said that an amount of Rs18 million would be awarded to the best performing district from the federal government while Rs 200,000, Rs150,000 and Rs100,000 would be awarded to the best performing teams as the first, second, and third position holders, respectively.

He directed the officers to work hard with dedication and devotion and ensure improvement in quality by accelerating the construction work of lining of watercourses in their areas.

The secretary asked the DG agriculture to issue show cause notices to the consultants for their poor performance and authorize DCOs to hire local engineers for giving technical sanctions.

DCO Shafiq Ahmed Khoso briefed the meeting that the target of 218 watercourses had been fixed for the district and 110 per cent registration and earthwork had been completed so far.

The DCO Khairpur also briefed the meeting that the target of 562 water courses had been fixed and 282 registration and 98 linings had been completed.

The progress of Shikarpur, Naushahroferoze and Ghotki was declared “very poor”.

The Secretary took a serious notice and directed the DCOs that those new officers, who do not take interest and were unwilling workers, be pinpointed by preparing a list so that they be given show-cause notices.

He also ordered the officers that those watercourses associations who had completed 80 per cent work should be given final payment in advance after taking such under taking from the concerned chairmen of the associations.

POLICE TESTS: The regional police officer, Sukkur, has announced that the written test as well as typing test (preferably computer MS Office know-how) from the eligible candidates of Sukkur region for appointment of junior clerks would be held at 10.00 am on November 10, at the SRP headquarters, Sukkur.