NAWABSHAH, Feb 26 Most of the tube-wells installed in freshwater zone alongside Rohri Canal in Sakrand and Hala under the Salinity Control and Reclamation Project (Scarp) to combat water logging and salinity have fallen into disuse thanks to large-scale corruption and bureaucratic apathy.

About 200 tube-wells, which cost millions of rupees, were installed under the Scarp and Water Development Board between 1968 and 1993 and the project was named North Rohri Fresh Ground Water Project. Tube-wells were installed in Sukkur, Khaipur, Nawabshah, Sakrand and Hala in fresh groundwater level areas under the project.

The main objective of the mega project was to combat water logging and salinity, besides using fresh groundwater to augment present water supplies.

Sources in the irrigation department said that most of the 200 tube-wells in Sakrand and Hala had become non-functional and in many cases their structures and material like power transformers, engines, motors, and pipes had been stolen.

The reason behind closure and disuse of tube-wells was said to be lack of interest by the irrigation officers as well as growers of the area.

In an attempt to revive the project, the government decided to hand over the tube-wells to local land lords and farmers with Rs18,000 as an incentive to buyers to help them carry out repairs of the machines and make them functional.

The growers of the area were not interested in owning the tube-wells due to high cost of maintenance, which ran into more than Rs40,000 a year.

They advised the government to save millions of rupees spent on the North Rohri Fresh Ground Water Project by reviving the project, which was aimed at combating water logging and decreasing groundwater table. —PPI