DADU, Oct 10: The district council demanded on Tuesday that the BHP Billiton president and the federal minister for petroleum ask officials of the Zamzama gas field to undertake development projects in the affected areas of Kachho belt.

The council session had been convened by Naib Nazim Syed Mohammad Shah.

Sikandar Ali Leghari, a council member, complained that the company was extracting huge quantity of oil and gas in Johi taluka but its officials were using community welfare funds outside the province at the expense of Kachho people.

He alleged that the company was not abiding by an agreement it had reached with the federal government which required that it spend bulk of its development funds in the area.

Ali Sher Leghari demanded audit of NGOs and an inquiry by district council members into the development works the company had carried out through NGOs.

The council passed a resolution unanimously demanding the utilisation of community development funds in underdeveloped areas of Dadu district.

The members demanded that the company should spend 10 to 12 per cent income of oil and gas in the local area through union council nazims and provide jobs to eligible local people.

Sikandar Leghari alleged that millions of rupees were embezzled in Nai Gaj project by using substandard material in construction. The convenor asked the DCO to conduct an inquiry into the charge and submit a report.

Ahmed Khan said that a middle school had been constructed in Mohabbat Lakhiar village some 12 months ago but no teacher had so far been posted there.

Nazeer Ali Leghari said that he had informed the education department about a middle school in Tore which had remained closed since last 15 years but they had not taken any action so far.

In response, the EDO of education, Syed Rasool Bux Shah, said that interviews would soon be conducted to appoint teachers and other staff at the two schools.

Ali Sher Leghari said that a number of villagers in Kachho belt had paid Rs6,000 each to an NGO through UC nazims for the installation of hand pumps but they did not see any hand pumps nor money was returned to them.

The convenor directed the DCO to record the statement of concerned UC nazims and the affected villagers and submit a report.