Karachi, August 19, 2018 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressing his serious reservations on water shortage in Sindh during Kharif Season has directed Irrigation department to submit him a detail report of the losses caused to the sowing of paddy crop.
He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting water issues, both irrigational and drinking here at the CM House today. The meeting was attended by Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah, Secretary Local Government Khalid Hyder Shah, Secretary Public Health Engineering Department Saeed Mangnijo, PD K-IV Asad Zamin and representative of water board.
The chief minister said that sowing of paddy crop in Sindh starts by second week of May but this year due to acute water shortage which was estimated at 40 percent went upto 60 percent the growers became very late. He added that those who had started cultivation in time suffered huge loss as their lands seedlings could not receive water. He directed Secretary Irrigation to give him a detailed report within a week about the losses caused to paddy crop due water shortage.
Secretary irrigation Jamal Shah told the chief minister that water position started improving from July 15. Giving current water position to the chief minister, he said that on Sunday (today) Upstream Guddu 248175 cusecs have been recorded while down stream it is 220266. He added upstream Sukkur water position is 198770 and down stream 143800 cusecs, Upstream Kotri 51840 cusecs and downstream 10080 cusecs have been recorded.
The chief minister said that now water position is considerably better and directed the secretary Irrigation to ensure proper release of water in the irrigation system of Larkana, Dadu, Badin and Thatta. He also asked him to ensure provision of water to the tail-enders. “When water position is better why growing are crying for water? he asked and went on saying to manage is properly.
PHE Dept: Secretary PHE department Saeed Mangnijo briefing the chief minister said that that there were 220 on-going water and sewerage development schemes in the province, of them 66 have been completed while 26 six others are at the advance stage and would be completed by September 2018.
Talking about 547 non-functional water supply and drainage schemes phase-I, he said that on the directives of the chief minister [first tenure of Murad Ali Shah] rehabilitation work has been started. He said 62 schemes have been rehabilitated and put in operation and work on 18 others are near completion and added tendering process for 391 schemes have also been completed and contracts would be awarded shortly. The chief minister was told that tendering process for establishment 17 water testing laboratories has been processed. The chief minister directed the secretary to award contract by the end of this months.
It may be noted that there are there are 1950 water supply/RO plant schemes which are being converted on solar system. Due electricity issues 950 schemes are either un-functional or working partially. This is why Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during his previous tenure had decided to convert them on solar energy. In the third phase, 700 new of water supply/RO plants schemes are being constructed on solar system.
KWSB: The chief minister directed water board to ensure proper supply of water to Karachiites during eid days. “I know the issues of power outages and others but make sure there should be no complaint,” he directed the water board. The chief minister said that after Eid he would review the K-IV project in detail.
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