HYDERABAD: Retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim, at the head of the one-man judicial commission on water and drainage system in Sindh on Thursday visited various water and drainage installations in Tando Allahyar and ordered withholding of outstanding payments to contractors on account of their unsatisfactory performance.

During his visit to the site of a drainage scheme in Pathan Colony, he ordered the executive engineer and contractor concerned to appear before the commission in Karachi on Monday (May 14).

At the site of Massu Bozdar drainage scheme, the judge found diesel engines in pathetic condition and placed without belts making it obvious that they had never been utilised.

He noted that serious complaints were made by the local people and around Rs20 million had been spent to complete the scheme but on the face of it, the civil work was substandard. Despite that, full payment was released to the contractors concerned.

Warns of action against officials

The commission observed that the sub-engineer, who briefed him about the scheme, was withholding information. He was directed to produce all the contractors before the commission in judges lodge in Hyderabad on Friday (today) at 10am. The judge directed the officials concerned not to refund security and call deposit of the contractors.

The commission also ordered that the genuineness of pump installed at the scheme be verified from its manufacturing company as it did not look original. All machineries installed at the site be replaced within 24 hours failing which the sub-engineer could face criminal prosecution, he said.

The scheme is currently non-functional and there are serious observations of the deputy commissioner concerned about it.

Justice Muslim also visited rural water supply scheme of Manzoor Khan Pitafi village where about 60 per cent work was completed. Assistant engineer Ejaz Ali informed him that he had approached the irrigation department for the sanctioning of a water connection. The judge directed Jamal Mustafa Syed, the chairman of the SC-appointed task force, to ensure such application was processed by Friday and reached the competent authority within a week as the issue related to people’s fundamental rights. Any delay on the part of officials would expose them to departmental proceeding, he warned.

The commission also issued directives for electricity connection to the scheme on a priority basis and ordered its completion by the end of next month.

Justice Muslim also visited Pyaro Loond drainage scheme and Nasarpur water supply scheme and issued necessary directives to the officials concerned.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2018