HYDERABAD, June 1: Sindh agriculture secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi has said the lining work to improve 2,189 watercourses in Sindh will be completed by June 30. Inspecting a newly-developed watercourse in the Akram Wah command area on Wednesday, he said Rs800 million had been released to district governments for the purpose.

He said 29,000 watercourses would be improved at a cost of Rs22.53 billion in Sindh under the National Programme for Watercourses Improvement.

Mr Jatoi said work was in progress on 777 watercourses while work on 64 watercourses had been completed.

He said new staff being trained would be deployed soon in the field which would help accelerate the work.

The official advised farmers to avail the opportunity and get their watercourses improved. He added that farmers would only have to provide masons and labour while material cost would be borne by the government.

He said the project would generate employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas, besides saving water up to 35 per cent. He said it would also give a boost to agriculture production, economy of the province and help reduce poverty.

VACCINATION: The director, animal husbandry, Sindh, has asked livestock owners to get their animals vaccinated against contagious diseases expected to spread during the period of July to September.