Daily Times

KARACHI: Government of Sindh has spent around Rs 344 billion in the past seven years on streamlining of drinking and irrigation water projects, this was revealed by the members of task force on drinking and irrigation water.

During 2009 to 2015, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided funds up to $500 million for eight districts in Sindh.

According to details, around Rs 123 billion had been spent on lining and rehabilitation of 90 irrigation systems while Rs 23 billion has been spent on installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant projects, said members of task force.

Moreover Rs 28 billion has so far been spent on the correction of drinking water conduit system in 14 districts in the province.

These projects which started in 2009-10 were aimed to deliver sustainable water supply in a safe, efficient and effective manner.

Under ADB’s project funds, Sukkur, New Sukkur, Rohri, Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Ghotki districts were to be supposed of the beneficiaries.

But on the contrary, it has been amazingly noticed that government of Sindh has totally failed to provide safe drinking water to the public at large especially in parts of upper and lower Sindh.

As the result, the population of these parts of Sindh has been forced to consume sub soil contaminated water, which is not fit for human consumption according to water test reports, the task forced informed.

“This failure can be attributed to the lack of will on the part of the government for not giving free hand to concerned officials and without making any infringement in their officials’ obligations” Iqbal Khero, Chairman Water Commission remarked.

Khero further informed that Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has directed the task force to complete its work in question with the clear cut and transparent recommendations for the implementation of committee’s findings.

On the official level, concerned departments of Sindh had submitted audit reports on utilizing funds but non of the reports have been certified from any recognized auditor which have been submitted on the matter, reported task force.

However on such anomalies, SCP has ordered the government to hire reputed independent private sector auditors like A F Ferguson and Company and to complete transparent audit in question, task force informed.

It is important to be mentioned here that Task Force/Committee has the power to seek information or any detail in regard to any question relatable to water or sanitation problems in any part of the Sindh.