KARACHI, May 5: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman has asked all nation building departments, including the irrigation and power, to promote departmental liaison and cooperation for the success of the National Drainage Programme (NDP) and attainment of the set targets.

He told them to ensure smooth implementation of 15 NDP-related schemes by December this year.

He issued the directive while chairing the 27th meeting of the Provincial Programme Steering Committee during which responsibilities and performance of the Sindh Irrigation Development Authority (SIDA), Area Water Boards (AWBs), Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) and Water Courses Associations (WCAs), besides other federal and provincial organisations and departments, with reference to the NDP, were reviewed.

The meeting was briefed about reforms in the irrigation sector in Sindh.

A strategy in relation to the aims and objectives laid down for further judicious and reliable water distribution, effective farm management, devolution of authority, transparent and environmentally appropriate action, was also discussed in the backdrop of the successful experiments in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, China and Mexico.

The meeting was informed that over 80,000 farmers had expressed their interest in the formation and election of the farmers’ organisations comprising representatives of selected water courses.

On the occasion, Secretary Irrigation and Power Shuja Ahmed Junejo, was entrusted with the responsibility of finalising paper work to make the 15 NDP-related schemes functional immediately and also ensure their completion during the next six months in consultation with Additional Chief Secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khehro and Secretary Finance Malik Israr through liaison with Secretary Implementation Nazar Hussain Mahar.

The chief secretary called upon the NDP and SIDA officials to ensure attainment of targets through practical work, instead of merely indulging in communications, so that positive results could be achieved.—APP