Development schemes: Site Limited seeks waiver of 50:50 cost sharing condition

The Sindh Industrial Trading Estates (Site) Limited has urged the provincial government to waive off the condition of 50:50 sharing of cost for the development schemes in the industrial area, it is learnt. Sources told Business Recorder on Friday that the Site Limited had forwarded a letter to the Secretary of the Industries and Commerce Department of Sindh, asking him to waive off the condition regarding cost sharing of two development schemes on 50:50 basis.
The schemes include water supply from Keenjhar Lake to Site Nooriabad with a total cost of Rs 940.739 million and the installation of 5MGD filter plant in Hyderabad worth Rs 100 million.
The letter says, "water supply from Keenjhar Lake to Site Nooriabad and the construction of 5.0MGD filter plant at Site Hyderabad were approved in the meeting of Provincial Development Working Party on September 30, 2008 with the condition that schemes will be funded on 50:50 sharing basis by the Site Limited and the Government of Sindh."
"As the schemes were included in Annual Development Plan (ADP) without such conditions but, while approving the schemes, the condition of 50:50 cost sharing was imposed, which does not seem justified. Site Limited is an autonomous body which generates funds by itself, which are incurred on maintaining infrastructure and due to its limited sources of income Site Limited can not undertake such huge projects."
"It is, therefore, requested that the Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh may be approached to waive the condition of 50:50 sharing of funds by Site Limited and Government of Sindh so that the schemes are undertaken and completed immediately," the letter further added.
According to sources Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Rauf Siddiqui had long been striving to get the funds released for these two schemes, but few officials of the Planning and Development were creating hurdles in funds' release.
They said work on laying of water line from Keenjhar Lake to Site Nooriabad was suspended as the planning and development department had raised objections on it due to modification in its original plan. "Further, it is hoped that the condition of 50:50 cost sharing would be waived off shortly and these two schemes would be completed soon as the industries department gets the funds released," they added.