Despite getting go-ahead signal from the Sindh government to divert 50 percent allocations of Sindh Annual Development Program 2010-11 for relief operations for flood affectees, the Sindh Planning and Development (P&D) Department has so far appeared toothless to materialise the said decision, due to strong resistance by some kingpins of the provincial cabinet, Business Recorder learnt on Wednesday.
In 2010-11 budget, the Sindh government has prioritised only those development schemes belonging to the hometowns of PPP key leaders and has allocated major part of ADP 2010-11 for the purpose. Therefore, the Sindh P&D Department is being pressurised to cut 50 percent allocations other than the prioritised development schemes for relief operations of flood affectees.
On the other hand, all Sindh government departments have also expressed resentments in this connection, saying that this discriminatory attitude shown by the top members of the provincial cabinet would not only create problems for them but would also drag several ongoing projects into shambles.
Sources said these departments say that the provincial authorities could easily manage this serious fiscal crunch, following the unprecedented floods, by diverting the funds of block allocations and several irrelevant new schemes falling in transport, education, agriculture and work and services departments.
Despite the fact that the advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on P&D, Dr Qaiser Bengali has now assented to divert new schemes' allocations for flood affectees, the Sindh P&D Department is being pressurised to cut 50 percent allocations of other than the prioritised development schemes for the purpose, and the said decision has been held in abeyance. They urged the Sindh government to utilise the allocations of special package and new initiatives for relief operations of flood affectees.
Official sources claimed that the government of Sindh has diverted most of the resources to provide relief to hundreds and thousands of flood victims. They said that it would be impossible for the government to carry forward the existing ADP as the extensive damage to agriculture, human settlements and physical infrastructure has been estimated to be around Rs 450 billion.
They dispelled the impression that P&D department has slashed 50 percent funds of all development schemes, saying that the funds of all slow moving and less impact ongoing schemes and new approved schemes where work has not started are being diverted for relief operations.
Moreover, they said, the schemes in the severely affected districts are also being examined to check whether these could be carried forward or would require revision. They said that only those development schemes, which are high impact and likely to have larger socio-economic benefits, are prioritised for current financial year.
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