HYDERABAD, Feb 3: EDO (agriculture) Shuhabuddin Siddiqui has directed the deputy district officers of his department to expedite pace of work on watercourse lining to surpass the annual target of the lining of 35 watercourses by the end of 2,007 under the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses.

He issued the directive at a meeting held on Saturday to review progress on the lining of watercourses in Hyderabad district.

The EDO told the meeting that during last year, 2005-2006, 52 watercourses were lined against the target of 39 in the district, and asked the officials concerned to maintain same pace of work in current year, 2006-2007.

He directed them to concentrate on quality of work and ensure their presence in the field to monitor the work and guide the growers about the lining of watercourses.

The meeting was informed that 17 water courses had been lined in the district by December 31, 2006 and work on 16 more would be completed in a week so the target of 35 watercourses would be easily surpassed.

The meeting was informed that the farmers associations were being properly guided and registration of new associations was in progress.

LAWLESSNESS: The Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concern over rampant lawlessness at business centres in Hyderabad city and urged the police to take action against the criminals.

A delegation of the chamber, led by its president Yousuf Suleman, met with RPO Babar Khattak on Saturday and informed him about a dacoity at the shop of former senior vice-president of the chamber Azizuddin Arain in the Market area and lawlessness at the business centres.

The delegation said that lawlessness had created unrest among the businessmen and demanded arrest of the criminals and recovery of stolen property.

The RPO directed DIG (operation) Commander (Retd) Shoukat Ali Shah to ensure arrest of the culprits and recovery of the stolen property.

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