Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) have been deployed to start checking of modules in the wake of growers' complaints about non-availability of water at tail ends, mainly due to water theft. Sindh Minister for Irrigation and Power Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari stated this while addressing a press conference here on Thursday. Earlier, the Minister held a detailed meeting, which was attended by all Chief and Superintending Engineers, reviewing the department's performance with regard to supply of irrigation water.
The minister pointed out that from day one it was a challenge for him to ensure growers at tails were supplied water and he accepted it and water was supplied to such areas which longed for this commodity for years. However, he acknowledged, still complaints were received from certain areas regarding non-availability of water. Leghari said lists of those elements found involved in tampering with water supplies were prepared. They were served with notices and told that their modules would be checked through the Rangers, which would be used at identified spots. He said the Rangers would act in co-ordination with the Superintending Engineers, who in turn would submit report to their Chief Engineers so that no injustice was done to anyone.
Talking to journalists, Nadir Akmal Leghari said that for the first time an accountability process was being initiated in respect of repair and maintenance division.
He said under that process, the whole manuals of water were being supplied to army along with sets of documents to check the R&M procedures and accounts. He informed that besides deployment of Rangers, committees comprising of local people would be formed with one-week task. However, the responsibility squarely would be on officers to ensure supply of water reached the tail ends.
He said 5-corps engineering was also involved to ensure transparency. Besides, he added a memorandum has been signed with the Transparency International whereby their standard manuals and procedures were being adopted.
Terming creation of liabilities another big issue Nadir Akmal called it a "mafia" and said for creation of liabilities, a system has been evolved and it was for that reason that no liability created during his tenure as Irrigation Minister.
Replying to a question, the Irrigation Minister explained that objective of deploying Rangers was to ensure fair distribution of water and no party or any other affiliations would be involved. He told another questioner that the committees formed for checking of modules would consist of staff of Chief Engineer Development. One team would visit Nasir division and other Nusrat division. Similarly, the staff of Drainage Division would be posted at Hala and Mehar divisions.
Replying to a question, Leghari said that a system and methodology has been evolved in collaboration with the Transparency international to check corruption under which the tendering system would have self-accountability. He claimed that corruption has been reduced in his department and situation would improve further in coming days.
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