DADU, July 20 A number of important development projects worth millions of rupees initiated by the previous government were abandoned by the present regime on assuming power.

The PPP government stopped work on the bus terminal, abandoned shifting fruit and vegetables market to city bypass and left halfway the raising of six entry gates to the city.

Liaquat Ali Jatoi, federal minister in Musharraf's tenure inaugurated the Sabzi Mandi project worth Rs40 million on June 30, 2006. District government was providing funds but work on it stopped as soon as the PPP took over. Work on Phase-1 is almost complete but Phase-II could not begin for want of funds.

Shifting of vegetable and fruit market from near Dadu railways crossing was also inaugurated by Liaquat Ali Jatoi on August 30, 2006, with an estimated cost of Rs40 million.

The Rs20 million worth project for the beautification of city by building six entry gates was launched by the former District Nazim Karim Ali Jatoi on September 6, 2006 in remembrance to renowned personalities of Dadu. Fifty per cent of work was complete when PPP assumed power. It not only renamed all six gates after Benazir Bhutto but also stopped funds thus leaving these half-way.

Engineer Mohammad Essa Abro of Building Department said that work on all these projects could not begin because of fund scarcity though were timed to complete by June 2010. Only 30 per cent funds were released as against 50 per cent work done which also left contractors in financial constraints, he added.

Karim Ali Jatoi s/o Liaquat Ali Jatoi told Dawn that he did his best to resolve problems of people but work on all projects stopped as soon as the PPP took reigns. It neglected all schemes and denied funds for carrying out the remaining work, he said adding that Sabzi Mandi and bus terminal were two major demands of the people but unfortunately these were left in the lurch while plagues of foundation-laying by Liaqaut Ali Jatoi are also missing.

President, Citizen Action Committee Dadu, Inayat Hussain Jamali slammed the PPP government for stopping funds.

Social activist Azam Khushik said that many mega projects have been launched in Karachi and Hyderabad but those of Dadu and other parts of interior Sindh were shelved.

He said that huge water supply schemes have been launched in Karachi but people in Dadu town were facing water shortage though they paid the taxes.

He suggested restarting the abandoned development schemes of Dadu.

A citizen, Abdul Hakeem Leghari lamented the government for ignoring development projects in towns and villages of interior Sindh.

He castigated the elected representatives for being disloyal with voters by overlooking their basic needs. He said population was increasing and development schemes being deserted.

DCO Dadu Mohammad Iqbal Memon told this scribe that rupees one billion had been allocated in budget 2010-11 for 64 new and 315 ongoing development projects which include the shifting of Sabzi Mandi, bus terminal and six entry gates which would complete very soon.

PPP, MPA Syed Ghulam Saha Jilani who is also Chairman of the District Development Committee Dadu said that all schemes launched by the PML-Q would begin in current fiscal as these were halted due to the paucity of funds.