KARACHI, May 15: The construction work on Mubarak Dam, which was restarted about three weeks back, is again stopped without any reason that may lead to a disaster in the area as the monsoon is approaching fast.

The contract to build Mubarak Dam was awarded for Rs3.7 million. The contractor had started the foundation work some weeks back, but, the same seemed to be in doldrums.

Area people feared that the delay in completion of the project might play havoc with the most neglected communities living in this century-old locality.

"We are not satisfied with the development work at the dam site and we feel insecure as the approaching monsoon may wash away our homes," said Haroon, an old villager.

"We are going to observe protest day on June 13 this year as the government officials could not change their way of thinking. It is inhuman approach and this indifferent attitude of the government officials should be condemned widely," he said.

Area people said that the city district government had ignored the entire coastal areas in its Karachi Development Package. "Several complaints have been submitted to city nazim as and other officials concerned, but, they did not pay any attention in this regard. Not a single penny has been fixed for the development of suburban parts of the city," another villager said.

President Musharraf had announced Rs29 billion package for the development of Karachi, but, the people of suburban areas still have many reservations on the selection of areas for the development.

An elected representative from the area said that the residents of the coastal areas were facing numerous problems, including acute shortage of potable water, lack of education and health facilities and unavailability of electricity.

He requested the nazim to allocate a fund of five billion rupees to the coastal areas for provision of potable water, education, health, electricity and communication facilities.

An official of the city government, when contacted, confirmed the reports of stoppage of work at the site. He said that the work was stopped as labourers engaged in construction had left for their native areas. However, he said that the work had been restarted at the site and expressed hope that it would be completed before the start of monsoon season. -PPI