KARACHI, Dec 11: The Asian Development Bank and the Sindh Coastal Development Authority have agreed to establish a fund for the development of community welfare and income related projects in the coastal zone of the province.

SDCA sources confirmed that it was closely working with the ADB on a proposal to establish a small grant fund of US$10 million in the coastal areas of Thatta and Badin districts.

The sources said the amount would be spent on small workable community welfare projects, which would be implemented with the cooperation of NGOs, district governments and community welfare bodies.

The SCDA sources further stated that the amount would be a part of the ADB programme for which it had already earmarked US$50 million in its lending programme for the year 2006 for implementation of various projects identified and prepared in Sindh Coastal and Inland Community Development Project (SCICDP) and ADB consultants.

The total cost of SCICDP is Rs48.689 million comprising of ADB share grant of Rs38.81 million and Sindh government share of Rs9.808 million.

According SCDA sources, the purpose of the study is to identify and prepare realistic and income-oriented projects in various segments of coastal economy for improving and uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the coastal communities of Karachi, Thatta and Badin.

ADB consultants have already prepared the inception report, which is seriously focusing on two others major issues: capacity building and an expanded role of SCDA and recommendation of substantial change in fisheries department.

The report stresses greater role for a strong monitoring and evaluation by the SCDA in the coastal zone of Thatta and Badin districts covering all developmental aspects by arming the SODA with the expertise in the field of land management, hydrogeology, alternate energy, aquaculture, disaster management, agriculture, environment and natural coastal resources.

The SCDA sources said that the World Bank had shown keen interests in the coastal zone of Sindh with a US$13.50 million project “Supporting Vulnerable Communities in Thatta and Badin”.

They said, “The ADB and the WB shall not have any element of duplication,” saying that the World Bank also wants an active role of the SCDA in the area.