HYDERABAD, May 22: DCO Mohammad Sharif Awan has said that as many as 20 development schemes at a cost of Rs70.033 million have been taken in hand under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (DERA) programme in the district.

Speaking at a meeting at his office on Monday, he said that 10 schemes of water supply had been launched at a cost of Rs27.999 million, three schemes of road at a cost of Rs27.997 million, one scheme in the agriculture sector at a cost of Rs1.530 million and six schemes of livestock and dairy development were being executed at a cost of Rs12.507 million.

He said the government had launched a special development programme under DERA to meet adverse effects of drought due to no rainfall.

He said that these development schemes would not only facilitate the people to meet their basic needs but also provide opportunities of income and employment to them.

He said that multipurpose development schemes were being introduced in the district to get maximum output from government investment.

The DCO directed the officers of executing agencies not to compromise over the quality of work and to get schemes completed within the stipulated period.

He said that the district government had evolved the monitoring system to ensure transparency in utilization of government funds and quality of development works as such vigilance committees would pay surprise visits to ongoing schemes.

He said that any one found guilty of substandard work would not only be blacklisted but would also be fined for reconstruction of the scheme at his own expenses.

The DCO stressed upon beneficiaries of the schemes to avail full benefits from the development schemes in their own interest.