HYDERABAD, Oct 11: Commander of Brigade-55, Brig Mansoor Aslam and Hyderabad district Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman attended a briefing about the working, progress of on-going projects and future plans of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) at the civic centre here on Wednesday.

The director general of the HDA, Mishraz Ahmed Siddiqui said in his presentation that new development package of about Rs3126.2 million had been proposed for several schemes of sewerage, water supply, solid waste disposal, road network improvement, housing, traffic engineering improvement, lighting of major roads, development of parks and play grounds, preservation of heritage and graveyards etc.

Under the second phase of the package, he said schemes beyond year 2015 had also been proposed which include Rs300 million project for solid waste disposal, Rs300 million scheme for preservation of heritage including the city fort and other buildings.

The meeting was informed that the people of Hyderabad City were being supplied 40 MGD filtered water and 14.5 MGD unfiltered water (total 54.50 MGD) while there were line losses of 13.62 MGD thus net water supply was 40.880 MGD.

The DG said that Rs358 million were required for solid waste disposal project including Rs58 million for phase-I.

He added that Rs43 million had been proposed for 38 schemes of road network improvement, Rs37.000 million for housing schemes and Rs87.700 million for lighting system of three talukas.

Brig Mansoor stressed the need for setting up model schools in consultation with Nazims and councillors.

He said that priority should be given to the development of city.

He added that parks, libraries and playgrounds should be restored while road from Hyderabad Gymkhana should be developed.

The Commander said that Hyderabad City should be expanded outward the outskirts to reduce load on services and utilities and check pollution.

He said that a ring-road round the city should be constructed with all inlets and outlets to facilitate travelling.

The district Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman said that government had chalked out a plan for future development of the KDA and on that pattern comprehensive plan would be chalked out for the HDA also.

The DG of HDA informed that a master plan had already been submitted to the Sindh government for approval.

Brig Mansoor assured that government would provide required funds for the development of Hyderabad district and all of its talukas would be provided judicious allocations.

MENTAL HEALTH: World Mental Health Day was observed at Sir C J Institute of Psychiatry Hyderabad in collaboration with Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences here on Wednesday.