KHAIRPUR, July 18: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Wednesday announced that the government would give to growers about Rs3,000 each subsidy on electricity bill of tube-wells.

He said at a public gathering at Setharja Agriculture Farm that 70 per cent population of rural Sindh was dependent on agriculture and announced that the government would set up agro-based industries in Khairpur for date orchards, in Larkana for olive, in Mirpurkhas for mango and other parts of the province to alleviate poverty.

He said that level of water in Indus River had risen and the irrigation water had been provided even to the tail-end growers of the province.

Drip irrigation system was being introduced to avoid seepage of water and all watercourses in the province were being brick-lined, he said.

He said that the completion of bridge over Indus River linking Khairpur with Larkana district would give a boost to trade activities between the two districts and benefit growers of the two districts and their adjoining areas.

He announced Rs100,000 financial assistance for the heirs of journalist Nisar Solangi of taluka Kingri, Rs50,000 for the treatment of a sick journalist Gulab Sehto and Rs100,000 grant for Setharja press club.

Later, Dr Arbab Rahim was briefed by managing committee of Sindh Seed Corporation (SSC) and directed the authorities to take action against defaulters under the land revenue act.