KARACHI, June 22: Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro has expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of the implementation of the projects under the Sindh Irrigation Development Authority (SIDA) and warned the authorities concerned of the accountability in that regard.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting held at the governor’s house to discuss the National Drainage Programme and matters related to SIDA.

The meeting was attended by finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, irrigation minister Syed Ali Mir Shah, chief secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain, additional CS Shahzado Shaikh, principal secretary Brig Akhtar Zamin, secretary finance Fazlur Rehman and other officials.

Urging newspapers to daily issue the water availability position in canals, the governor said the daily discharges should be widely publicised so that agriculture water is supplied in a transparent manner. He also directed the agriculture department to play its role so that farmers had timely and correct information about the water availability.

Mr Soomro stressed the need to launch of an effective campaign regarding the advantages of participatory irrigation and drainage management. He issued directives for ensuring the participation of NGOs, district governments, area notables and communities. He asked the agriculture department to adopt prudent irrigation practices such as land levelling, drip irrigation and use of sprinklers, so that the water shortage problem could be controlled to some extent.—APP