LARKANA, Nov 17: Development schemes initiated under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (Dera) programme in the district have been left incomplete due to the delay in release of funds.

Sources in the planning section of the district government told this correspondent here on Saturday that under the Dera programme, 29 schemes of roads, a bridge over the Hamal Lake, veterinary dispensaries and water ponds, costing Rs122.5 million, were initiated in remote areas of Kambar, Shahdadkot and Warah talukas.

They said the Sindh government released Rs68 million for 2002-2003, of which Rs10 million lapsed as the district government used Rs58 million by June 2003.

They said only 50 per cent of the development works could be completed by using the remaining amount.

The sources said the district government had approached the Sindh government to restore the lapsed fund and release the remaining amount allocated for the schemes.

They said on Nov 12 the Sindh government released Rs15 million as first instalment for 2003-2004 which was not enough to complete the schemes.

They said 70 per cent of the works would have been completed had the funds been released on time.

They said the district government was still waiting to receive the lapsed amount of Rs10 million.

SHC: The Sindh High Court, Larkana circuit bench, issued notices to the Taluka police officer, Dadu, and the SHO to appear in person on Nov 20 and produce two detainees, Muharram and Nizamuddin Buriro.

Ariz Mohammad Buriro filed a constitutional petition invoking article 199 of the constitution stating that a few days back the police from Khairpur Nathan Shah arrested his son, Nizamuddin Buriro, from a sanitary shop and tortured him to the extent that he had been seriously injured.

When the police was approached it demanded money to release his son and threatened to kill him in an encounter if the money was not given, the petitioner alleged.

Later, police shifted him to some undisclosed place and kept him in illegal confinement.