LARKANA:The Culture, Tourism and Archaeology Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi, has so far failed to approve PC-1 sent by its Archaeology Director General over a year ago for various projects for preservation and development of World Heritage monuments of Mohenjo Daro.
These works include establishment of Resource Center for research work which was recommended by the foreign experts a year ago. Residential quarters of the employees which badly need repair and renovation work due to which officials of other districts and departments are using Mohenjo Daro Rest House. Work of 16 washrooms has not been completed which were constructed for the usage by the tourists and visitors. Provision of safe drinking water scheme which is still in doldrums as the underground water of this world famous site has become highly contaminated and unsafe. On the directions of Sindh High Court, Larkana, land was retrieved from habitual land grabbers and occupants but the boundary wall has not yet been completed to keep them away.
The contractors established pillars and erected fenced thorny wires on some portion but it is still incomplete rendering the land open for occupation by other interested mafia. The project of installing iron grills around the ruins to save the site from visitor’s damage is still hanging in the balance due to which on every Eid the historical site is closed for general public. Services of contract employees have not yet been regularized despite passage of seven years.
The Technical Consultative Committee had also recommended to appoint 100 people on contract basis for three years to round the clock look after the ruins and save them from further destruction by the visitors but work is yet to commence in nine areas of the monuments.
Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, Director General, Archaeology, told newsmen here on Tuesday that PC-1 has already been prepared and sent to the Sindh Government over a year ago which is pending approval. He said after approval of the PC-1, funds will be released and then he hoped all remaining works will be carried out at Mohenjo Daro for the benefit of tourists including Resources Center for Research work and to save its land.