LARKANA, March 20: The District Development Working Party (DDWP) has approved development schemes of Rs170.00 million for the drought-hit areas.

The district officer, planning, Ghulam Mustafa Soomro, told Dawn on Wednesday that these schemes would be carried out in Warah, Shahdadkot and Mirokhan talukas under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (DERA) programme. Under the programme, the federal government has allocated Rs300 million for Larkana.

He said that the district government was considering to construct at least seven small dams, two in Warah and five in Kambar sub-divisions, to address the drinking water problem with the coordination of the Sindh Arid Zone Development Authority (SAZDA).

The DDWP, in its recent meeting chaired by district coordination officer, Mohammed Hashim Leghari, has approved 15 kilometres new roads with the estimated cost of Rs22.527 million.

The DO said that a bridge would also be constructed over the Hamal Lake with the cost of Rs18.870 million and added that five roads in Kasho belt would be repaired with the cost of Rs65.186 millions.

The department of education proposed to set up 82 primary schools with the cost of Rs51.433 million while Rs7 million have been earmarked under the DERA programme for health facilities.

The plan has been sent to the planning division of the Sindh government for approval.