THATTA, Feb 1: The World Bank has shown interest in the coastal zone of Sindh by initiating a project, ‘supporting vulnerable communities in Thatta and Badin’, at a cost of 13.5 million dollars.

A workshop to identify and prepare projects in Thatta and Badin districts with small amounts of money was held at the Darbar hall in Makli here on Wednesday.

The workshop was presided over by a team leader of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Simon Tiller.

It was attended by consultant of the Coastal Development Authority (CDA), Shams Memon, Mr Jefar, an ADB economist, Thatta DCO, representatives of the Rural Awareness and Development Organization (RADO), Aurat Foundation, Wahdat and a number of NGOs.

It was recommended in the workshop that a sum of 10 million dollars be allocated for small projects.

The projects included provision of drinking water, sanitation, cooking stoves and roads.

Trial projects for low technology fish ponds at Keti Bundar, Shah Bundar and zero point to be built on tidal mud-flats, training for unqualified people especially women to learn animal husbandry skills, micro credit to buy livestock, promotion and encouragement of milk and meat industry, micro-credit fertilizer, were the main recommendations.

Stakeholders and representatives of various segments of the society insisted on improvement of ecology of the area and suggested plantation of mangroves on 300 hectares.

Mr Tiller while suggesting strong monitoring role of the SCDA (Sindh Coastal Development Authority) in Thatta and Badin districts said that the ADB funding of 50 million US dollars would involve projects of policy and institution, natural resources, coastal fisheries, rural infrastructure, farming development alternative energy, marine fisheries and mangroves.

He said the ADB would provide more funds if the projects yielded positive results within three to five years.

The SCDA was currently implementing projects worth Rs279.200 million, including rehabilitation and propagation of drought affected coastal mangroves in the Thatta district.

Mr Tiller refused to comment on controversial water projects, including the Kalabagh dam.