KARACHI, July 15: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has warned that the towns and union councils failing to check flow of untreated water and sewage into canals and rivers would face stern action. Presiding over a meeting that the CM’s House here, asked the officials concerned to take appropriate measures to prevent untreated water from getting into the water channels meant for potable and irrigation purposes.

He directed the local government institutions from UC to district levels, to conduct a survey of the entire territory under their respective jurisdiction and identify the areas where laying of proper water and drainage lines was necessary.

Dr Arbab told the meeting that he had revived the Public Health Engineering Department and increased its budget Rs630 million to Rs3 billion.

He said that for the last two years, the government was focusing on bringing about an improvement in the irrigation network and road communication system on a priority basis. However, for the current year, the government had attached priority to the provision of clean drinking water to citizens and ensuring a proper drainage system.