HYDERABAD, Feb 28: The execution of around 23 drainage and water supply schemes of five rural Talukas of Hyderabad district is being delayed in the absence of issuance of the “sealed authority” by the accountant general, Sindh branch, Karachi, to the district treasury office.
It was learnt that the Sindh government had sanctioned an amount of Rs55.76 million for the seven districts of Sindh, including Karachi, for fiscal year 2001-2002.
Of this, an amount of Rs41.49 million was allocated for five rural Talukas of Hyderabad, which included Hala, Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Hyderabad rural. An amount of Rs27.45 million, out of Rs41.49 million, however, could not be utilized on time, i.e. by June 30, 2002, and resultantly lapsed.
The remaining amount was spent on development schemes.
Details, however, could not be known about the pace of progress on the schemes.
According to an official of the Taluka Council Hyderabad (rural), the amount was not utilized because of a lengthy exercise of issuance of tenders, work orders and pre-scheme matters that were essential for the execution of any development project.
The Hyderabad DCO contacted the Sindh Finance Ministry and due to his correspondence the amount was re-validated and Rs25.43 million was sanctioned against the lapsed amount for the five Talukas.
This is to be utilized for the fiscal year 2002-2003. Because of re-validation, an amount of Rs2 million was deducted by the finance ministry.
The cheques of this amount have been issued to Taluka councils, which had submitted 23 drainage and water supply schemes.
The accounts officer, A. Bachayo Jatoi, said that his office had, so far, not received any “sealed authority” from the accountant general, Karachi, which was why the cheques could not be cleared. The sealed authority is a must for clearance of any official cheque/bill.
The delay in the issuance of the sealed authority was also raised in the district council by Meeran Mohammad Shah, the chief whip and Nazim of a union council of Hyderabad (rural) Taluka.
Quoting the district Nazim, Dr Makhdoom Rafiq Zaman, he said that even the head of the district admitted that there was some problem at the accountant general in Karachi, which delayed the issuance of the sealed authority.