HYDERABAD, June 14 One more union council has been created in Qasimabad taluka, raising its UCs' number to five, according to Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari, who was elected from the taluka on a provincial assembly seat.

Four UCs were created in Qasimabad taluka before 2001's party-less local bodies elections held under devolution plan of military dictator Pervez Musharraf. It was the smallest taluka out of eight talukas of undivided Hyderabad district.

Qasimabad's elected representatives had been claiming that the area is not given adequate funds for the development.

Mr Bhurgari said that he had taken up the matter with Sindh government to ensure creation of one more UC so that the representation and funds are increased for the area.

The new UC will comprise Deh Shah Bukhari, Deh Mirzapur, a part of Deh Jamshoro and Hur camp. He said that now the taluka would get more funds for the area to ensure development.

Late Noor Mohammad Shoro was elected as taluka nazim in 2001 as Pakistan Muslim League-Q candidate and then in 2005 again. Subsequently he joined Pakistan People's Party.

The MNA and MPA from the area belonged to PPP from one national and provincial seat which were created before 2002 general elections.

RAINWATER The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is still trying to drain out rainwater from some pockets of Qasimabad taluka. Wasa officials are draining out rainwater from Prince town and the areas of the Happy Homes and technical college in Wahdat colony.

Wasa managing director Kafeel Ahmed said that the rainwater accumulated in the area as rains hit Hyderabad after Cyclone Phet on June 5 and 6. He added that the capacity of Qasimabad's main pumping disposal machine was 7,000 gallons per minute against generator's capacity is 1,500 gallons per minute which is much below the required one.

Under a new scheme being executed under recently announced development package, a generator of 100 per cent capacity has been sanctioned for the disposal to avoid any such crisis in monsoon rains that are expected.

People living in Happy Homes remained badly disturbed due to stagnant rainwater as a drain is being built there. Accumulation of rainwater, coupled with drain's construction on 150 feet road, has created problems for the people.

The Wasa authorities are trying to keep the system functional at all cost during the forthcoming monsoon season through standby generators because electricity breakdown had created a havoc for Wasa authorities and areas of Qasimabad, Hali Road, unit-2 and 11 of Latifabad were affected in terms of drainage of rainwater.