Sindh government undecided about Rs 20 billion DDP

The prospects of District Development Program (DDP) getting Rs 20 billion seem to be dim as the Sindh government appears indecisive regarding its implementation, Business Recorder learnt on Friday. The Sindh government could not take any decision whether the funds would be used as per allocation or surrendered to provincial exchequer.
Provincial government had allocated said funds in Annual Development Program (ADP) 2011-12, in the head of District Development Program (DDP). These funds were seized by the Sindh government, along with other funds of City District Government Karachi (CDGK), district governments and Taulka Municipal Administrations (TMAs) after promulgation of ordinance regarding revival of local government system 1979.
With promulgation of said ordinance, Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001 was abolished, resulting in abolition of CDGK, all district governments and TMAs. Later, provincial Local Government department had restored the powers of concerned officers of District Councils (DCs) and Town Committees (TCs) in order to run the basic financial affairs of said institutes but the funds of development including Rs 20 billion of DDP still hang in balance, sources said.
With change in local government system, experts are of the view that Rs 20 billion of DDP would be added in ADP 2011-12 and Planning and Development department would amend ADP in this regard. In opinion of many of them the said District Development Program (DDP) funds would be transferred to local government department and this department would approve the development schemes of districts through Departmental Development Working party (DDWP).
DDWPs have the powers of approval of development schemes up to Rs 60 million, sources said. Earlier, District Development Committees (DDCs) had the powers of approval of development schemes up to Rs 20 million, sources added. Sources claimed that Local government department is willing to get all funds in its control and would use it through its DDWP.
In this connection, an official of Local Government department told Business Recorder that few meetings have been held in order to resolve the issue of Rs 20 billion of District Development Program (DDP) but the matter has not been finalised yet. He said that Sindh Chief Minster Qaim Ali Shah would chair the meeting, and hoped that he would find out the exact way in this regard.