KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, on Monday presided a meeting of Irrigation Department on water logging and tubewells under SCARP scheme at CM House here.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Sindh, Raja Muhammad Abbas, Principal Secretary to CM, Muhammad Siddique Memon, Secretary Irrigation Sindh, Babar Effendi, Managing Director SIDA Muhammad Ehsan Leghari, Chief Engineer Irrigation, Ghulam Mustafa Dahri, Project Director SCARP, Khan Muhammad Dahiri.
Chief Minister said that due to continuous three years heavy rains, the lands of province are suffering from water logging in many areas while there is situation of drought in some areas.
He said that scheme of installation of tubewells was aimed to reduce water level in water logged areas and also to provide water for irrigation purposes.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah added that the relevant section i.e. SCARP tubewell divisions are not working properly and there is no prompt attention towards maintenance and operational use of tubewells with the result that the water level had increased.
He said that there was lack of attention from officers, engineers and staff of SCARP Divisions and there are complaints from elected representatives about non-functioning of tubewells.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that there are reports of 80pc tubewells lying non-functional and he has ordered enquiry to probe the situation about causes of non- functioning of those tubewells.
He warned that any person found responsible will be dealt accordingly and action will be taken against involved persons.
Secretary Irrigation Sindh and Chief Engineer Irrigation Development in their briefing informed that Sindh province being the drainage line of all Pakistan with flat lands, water-logging and salinity is main problem affecting lands and crop yields.
He added that the Federal Government constructed SCARP projects through WAPDA to combat the twin menace of water-logging and salinity; the completed projects were handed over to Irrigation and Power Department for operation and maintenance purpose.
He added that WAPDA handed over SCARP projects of Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, East Khairpur, Tile drainage project and LBOD Project Shaheed Benazirabad.
There are total of 3,657 tubewells, out of which 1,401 tubewells are closed and in all 2,256 tubewells are in operation i.e. 38pc are closed while 62% are in operation.
Chief Minister Sindh directed to take action against those who indulged in theft and damages of tubewells.
The meeting was informed that more than 100 FIRs have been lodged against such persons.
Chief Minister Sindh assured that funds required for repair and maintenance of tubewells will be released and directed the officers concerned to get maximum number of tube-wells repaired within two months and made functional early.
He also directed to get rain water disposed-off early from rain affected areas of Jacobabad and other areas.
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