MITHI, Sept 27: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that the Left Bank Outfall Drain will be diverted to the Thar desert for using its water for irrigation.

He said that at present LBOD’s water is being released into Shakoor lake but it could be used for irrigation in the Rann of Kutch area of Tharparkar district.

Speaking at a public gathering in Diplo on Wednesday, the chief minister said that the government was making all-out efforts to bring underdeveloped areas at par with those of developed ones.

He said that work on projects of prime minister’s Thar package had been going on rapidly.

He said that electrification schemes for various villages had been sanctioned and a vast network of metalled roads was being laid in the far-flung areas of Thar.

He said that dairy farms would be set up near Mithi, Kaloi and Naukot towns and loans would be given to farmers for rearing buffaloes at the farms.

He said that drip irrigation and installations of engines at sweet-water wells in the southern belt of Thar was also under consideration which would also support agricultural activities in the area.

The chief minister paid a surprise visit to the Diplo taluka hospital and directed the administration that the poor patients be provided medicines from Zakat funds.

He also urged that repair of hospital rooms and floor be carried out.

He announced provision of Sui gas and setting up of a utility store for Diplo.

He said that the work of 77 kilometres road from Islamkot to Diplo would be started within a month.

MNA Arbab Zakaullah, MPA Haji Abdullah, District Nazim Arbab Anwar, Sindh’s additional chief secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khairo and education secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi were present on the occasion.

Talking to reporters in Islamkot, he said that an American company had agreed with President Musharraf during his recent visit that it would set up a coal-fired power plant in Thar which would produce electricity besides creating opportunities of jobs for locals.

Generation of power would also prove helpful in setting up small industrial units in Thar, he said.

He said that Thar had a lot of potential for development and exploration.

He said that there were huge deposits of mineral resources and exploitation of deposits was likely to make Thar prosperous.