KARACHI, March 16: The provincial government has approved Rs107.974 million schemes proposed by the Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) for the development of coastal belts in Badin and Thatta districts.

According to SCDA sources, these schemes pertain to the establishment of coconut and oilpalm farms, master plan for coastal areas’ development and feasibility for Karachi-Badin road along the coast.

The sources revealed that the coconut and oilpalm farms scheme, which would cost Rs89.924 million, was first initiated in 1994-95 and the proposed area was stretched over the talukas of Thatta and Badin.

An amount of Rs44.702 million has been spent up to June 2002 whereas the revised allocation for current financial year is Rs 17 million. Another amount of Rs18.003 million has been allocated under the Annual Development Programme 2003-04. Physical progress on the scheme has been put at 76 per cent in 2001-02 which has risen to 90 per cent in the current fiscal.

The SCDA is the sponsoring agency whereas Forest Department is executing agency for farms at Gharko and Khanani areas of Thatta district and Rarri and Buharki areas of Badin district. The total farming area is 2,460 acres.

Plantation in the farming area is salicornia on 40 acres and oilpalm and coconut totalling 6,600 and 2,100 plants respectively.

A sum of Rs3 million has been approved for the preparation of master plan of the coastal area.

A workshop, held recently in Karachi, was attended by all stake-holders to workout modalities and identify parameters of development projects.

For the preparation of feasibility for Karachi-Badin coastal road, the provincial government has approved Rs8.05 million for C&W Department and Rs7 million for the city district government under ADP 2002-03.

The responsibility of C&W Department involves feasibility study of 322kms from Ghaggar Phattak to Ali Bundar via Keti Bundar along with link and ring roads. The city government through its Works and Services Department will carry out feasibility study of 109kms roads, by the end of current ADP, from Paradise Point to Ghaggar Phattak. The progress of work is being monitored by the SCDA.—APP