Misappropriation of billions of rupees: Sindh government to remove SIDA MD and irrigation directors

The Sindh government will remove Managing Directors of water boards, Sindh Irrigation Development Authority (SIDA) and other officials shortly for misappropriation of funds worth billions of rupees, it is reliably learnt. The decision has been made following several complaints against these officials including misappropriatin of billions of rupees fund.
In this the regard, the provincial government would issue an administrative order, official sources at the Irrigation and Power Department told Business Recorder on Friday. They said that the MDs of SIDA, Nara, Ghotki and Left Bank water boards were appointed by the previous government on political grounds, which led to poor performance of the irrigation system and corruption on a large scale.
Now, these corrupt officials would soon be removed from their posts and honest ones would be appointed to improve the irrigation system, they added. In 1991, the sources said that the World Bank and the provincial irrigation and power department had signed an agreement for handing over the irrigation system to the farmers organisations for better functioning.
Under the agreement, the irrigation system was handed over to SIDA and the formation of three water boards took place and some 400 canals out of total 1300 were handed over to farmers organisation, they said. "The WB, center and the provincial government had provided billions of rupees funds for the system improvement under the National Development Programme (NDP) and the Farm Water Management Programme (FWMP).
The funds were misused due to lethargic attitude and ill performance by SIDA, transition department and social mobile group," they added. According to the sources, the Anti-Corruption and Establishment Department also decided to reinvestigate the proper verification of funds from 1991 till date. After thorough investigation, those found involved in the corruption would be taken to task, they pointed out. Secretary Irrigation and Power Shuja Ahmed Junejo could not be reached for comments.