SUKKUR, July 25: The mega drainage project of the city is liable to delay due to failure of the federal and provincial governments to deliver funds.

Under the Rs470 million project, almost all the main roads of the city—including Shikarpur Airport, Society, Military, New Goth, Bunder and Minara roads—have been dug up to lay drainage pipes of 24 inch diameters to 72 inch diameters.

However, due to the slow pace of construction work, non-availability of first installment of Rs210 million and the passage of time, the cost of the project has gone up to Rs500 million, according to official sources.

Not only this, but all the main roads of the city have been dug up and left open after laying pipes, the people and especially daily commuters are facing difficulties.

Due to the accumulation of dust on the roads people especially children and elderly people are suffering from dust allergy and eye ailments.

However, due to the shortage of technical staff and lack of funds, the mega project, which should have been completed by now is likely to be delayed for months.

When contacted, Sukkur District Nazim Syed Nasir Hussain Shah told Dawn that stipulated period of the mega project was four years, but all-out efforts were taken to complete the project within two years.

He said that keeping in view the lack of funds, the district government had provided a loan of Rs5 million for the project.

Public health engineering SDO Ehsan Chohan said that after the project’s completion, the drain water would be carried out through pipes of different diameters and would be disposed off in 16 ponds situated in Saeedabad and after treatment it would be disposed off in the Indus.

Political and social activists, including Maulana Hizbullah Jakhro, Maulana Abdul Haq Mahar and office-bearers of various trade bodies have demanded of the federal and Sindh government to release funds to the district government Sukkur so that the mega drainage project could be completed soon.