July 28, 2008	Monday	Rajab 24, 1429

DADU, July 27: The World Bank is reported to have declined to release funds for rehabilitation of water channels of Ghotki feeder canal under the Water Sector Improvement Project (WSIP).

The step is believed to have been taken because of the transfer of administrative control of the Ghotki feeder canal area water board to the irrigation department from the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, established as an autonomous authority under the Sindh Water Management Ordinance 2002.

The reason given by the irrigation department for the transfer of the control of the water board is shortage of water in tail-end areas of the channels. The notification to this effect was issued by secretary irrigation and power department on July 17.

In fact, the problem of water shortage is being faced by the entire province, and quite severely by the tail-end areas due to unfair distribution of water and political rivalries among the feudals of upper Sindh.

On Saturday, World Bank team leader for WSIP, Masood Ahmed, informed the SIDA through an email from Washington that the bank would not be able to provide funds (Rs1 billion) for the rehabilitation and improvement programmes of the channels in Ghotki.