KARACHI, Sept 8: The Sindh Assembly was informed on Monday that Rs 6,103 million 100 mgd K-III water supply scheme for Karachi will be delayed by at least six months and is expected to be operational by December 2005 owing to an initial delay in starting the project.
This was stated by Shoaib Ahmed Bokhari, Sindh minister for planning and development while replying to a question by Ms Nasreen Chandio of the PPP Parliamentarians during question hour in the Sindh assembly.
He put the onus of delay on slow performance of the KWSB. Mr Bokhari informed the House that out of Rs 500 million released to the provincial government by the centre for the project, the KWSB had spent only Rs 110.954 million up to April 15.
He said in a cabinet meeting on Oct 25, 2000, the chief executive had issued directives for a fast track processing of 100 mgd additional water supply to Karachi. The project was approved by the ECNEC on April 16, 2001.
He told the questioner that the date for completion of the project has not yet expired and its time is three years. Originally, it was to be completed in June 2005 but due to initial delays, it is now expected to be completed by December 2005 as per revised schedule given by the KWSB.
He said although the federal government had allocated Rs 997.765 million in the PSDP 2002-2003, the amount has not been released “due to slow utilization by the KWSB”.
He claimed that the government is making efforts to speed up the project to complete it by the revised schedule. He informed the House that designing has been completed and all contracts had been awarded by June 2003.
The Sindh Assembly was also informed by Mr Bokhari that the provincial government has not yet implemented the recommendations regarding reduction of stamp duty and registration fee because it involves policy decisions and amendment in the law.
He was responding to a question by Syed Irfan Ali Shah who wanted to know as to why the provincial government has not yet implemented the National Housing Policy, 2001, with regard to reduction in stamp duties and registration fee.
He said the Board of Revenue was in the process of placing the matter before the cabinet for a final decision.
Mr Bukhari did not agree with the questioner that revival and progress in the housing and construction sector had been blocked and added that a final cabinet decision would further facilitate this sector.
Dr. Sikandar Ali Mandhro was informed by Mr Bokhari that in pursuance of Section 5 sub-section (c) Coastal Development Authority Act, 1994, the chief minister is the competent authority to nominate two MPAs, one each from districts of Thatta and Badin, to be members of the governing body of the authority. However, the minister said that the matter regarding the composition of the governing body, including appointment of elected representatives, is under process.
The House was nevertheless informed by the minister that two MPAs, Haji Ali Bux and Syed Karim Dino Shah Shirazi, have been nominated from districts Badin and Thatta as members of the governing body of the Coastal Development Authority and their notifications have been issued.
Replying to a question by Ms Nasreen Chandio, the minister informed the House that SAZDA had procured nine mobile medical units under the JICA’s grant-in-aid in 1987 which were provided in whole of arid zone in Sindh rendering door-to-door health service to the people free of cost.
However, in compliance with the cabinet decision, these units were handed to the Sindh health department, the minister said, adding that now dispensaries and hospitals, along with doctors, were available in Thar and other arid zones to cater to the medical needs of the people.
To a question by Syed Ali Mardan Shah, the minister for livestock, Manzoor Panhwar informed the House that an inquiry would be conducted by the director-general of the livestock into the loss of livestock purchased for Rs 3.5 million.
He informed that during 1995-96, 150 cows, 325 goats and 339 sheep were purchased under the ADP scheme for development in Taluka Thana Bhola Khan in Dadu district to assist poor families of Kohistan area as Qarze Hasna. He informed that the animals were not purchased out of Zakat Fund.
Manzoor Panhwar told the House that the department had made several requests to the government for distribution of animals but it could not be done due to dissolution of the then government and at present, they were being kept at various livestock farms.
The questioner pointed out that instead of breeding of animals, loss of animals had been reported and called for an inquiry into the matter.
Replying to a question by Mohammed Sajid Jokhio, the minister informed that six sewerage schemes were included in the ADP 1996-97 for implementation in Malir District.
He said three schemes were dropped by the interim government due to financial constraints and three have been completed. He said no scheme was shifted to other location.
He informed the same questioner that there was no allocation in ADP of 1996-97 for construction of Mole Dam in District Malir. The project area, he said, is located in Malir River Basin situated about 50 kms north east of Karachi City. The project area extends on the both sides of the Malir River between the proposed mole Dam sites located at about 7.2 kms.
PC-II was prepared in 1995 and the PC-I amounting Rs.1937.5 million was prepared in August 1997.