HYDERABAD, Aug 14: The Indus Development Organisation (IDO) on Tuesday announced formation of “Indus Riverine Network” (IRN) to help put a stop to deforestation in the river’s catchment areas and stressed that clearance of 95 per cent of trees had created an environmental nightmare for the province.

The executive director of IDO, Zain Daudpoto, said that the IDO had formed 30 organisations and the network in Matiari in collaboration with the UNDP and Small Grant Programme at the conclusion of a two-day workshop in Hyderabad the other day.

Political leaders and influential persons were involved in cutting down tens of millions of trees, he charged.

He said that the organisations would also be part of “Save Forests Committee” and the network would raise similar associations in all the catchment areas of the province to protect forests.

The process of deforestation started during Gen Ziaul Haq’s government but it gained speed during the present government following announcement of its agro-forestry policy, Mr Daudpoto said.

The deforestation had on the one hand played havoc with the environment of the province and on the other rendered tens of thousands of people jobless, a fact which he feared could lead to serious law and order situation.

HESCO: The Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company (Hesco) had started installing powerful transformers at a cost of Rs150 million in 132 KV Larkana, Arain Road Sukkur, Pir Jo Goth and Qasimabad grid stations, said chief executive of the company, K.B.Qureshi on Monday.