THATTA, May 4: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that use of alternate energy is a major achievement of his government.

Speaking at a gathering in Juma Goth of coastal taluka Mirpur Sakhro after inaugurating a windmill project on Thursday, he said the government was determined to extend maximum benefits and facilities to the common man.

Small windmill and solar energy generating small projects would bring prosperity in areas where Wapda’s power were not available and open enormous avenues of livelihood, he said.

The chief minister said the government had sanctioned 100 such projects which would illuminate 6,700 houses in remote villages. Within three years, 806 villages of coastal area would be electrified this way, he added.

The chief minister claimed that his predecessors, instead of concentrating on welfare schemes and benefiting the common man, had hoodwinked the masses through hollow slogans.

He said, during his recent visit of this area, a Canadian woman had contacted him and advised installation of a modern project along the coastal belt having capability of auto-chlorinating 7,000 gallons of sweet water as well converting 25,000 litres of brackish water into the sweet water, which could also be used for agricultural purpose.

Dr Arbab admitted that Sindh had been experiencing worst crises of water for irrigation and drinking, but the government had taken notice of it and was making efforts to avert such a crisis in the forthcoming days.

Zamindars, he said, could afford the suggested project.

The government, he said, was considering to share Rs3 million of its Rs3.8 million total cost while the zamindar would give Rs800,000. The main objective was to encourage private sector in producing sweet water and urged zamindar to become self-sufficient in water.

He said, earlier no governments had desilted and cleaned riverine network, but now the tail-enders were able to receive timely irrigation water, he said and added that brick-lining of watercourses was a major step of the government and the country would soon reap its fruit.

The Sindh government, he said was also considering establishment of model villages in the coastal belt.

Criticizing late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohammad Khan Junejo, Arbab Rahim said his government would take precautionary measures and carry out an in-depth study before launching housing projects. Those constructed during the tenures of Bhutto and Junejo had never benefited the deserving people, he added.

He suggested that joint steps of the government and communities could help replace katcha settlements with better pakka houses.

The chief minister expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the Coastal Development Authority.

He held out assurance to earmark a considerable amount in the next budget for the construction of the coastal highway to Ali Bunder in the Badin district.