About 42 percent of tube wells in various parts of Sindh are closed due to major or permanent faults for about over one year, whereas six percent are dysfunctional for minor mechanical defects, the Sindh Assembly was informed on Monday. Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Saifullah Khan Dharejo said the major segment of tube wells had fallen dead for serious reasons.
He said either major/permanent nature of faults or theft/blowing of electric transforms fuse had struck these water pumps, bringing them to a closure.
Regarding the six percent of inoperative tube wells, he said, their nature of faults had been minor, since November 30, 2009.
Chairing the session, Speaker Nisar Khuhro resumed proceedings with allowing ministers for irrigation and power to reply the members' questions.
Dharejo also apprised the house about design flaws of Chotiari Dam project, saying the Sindh government after taking over the project from Wapda found that its embankment had not been made as per original drawings.
He said Wapda had initially evolved the project design and its PC-I. He further said that Sindh government after inspection had felt to undertake further earth work and stone pitching to bring the project into life.
He said under PSDP the Sindh government accordingly had prepared PC-I, costing Rs 305.472 million and got it also approved by the federal government.
At present, he said, required earth work and stone pitching work was in progress, adding the reservoir will maintain its designed capacity with completion of construction work.
The minister said water distribution was being done in line with the Water Accord of 1991 for an issue of interpretation accord's Para-14 (b). He added Sindh received during Kharif season from 2004 to 2008.
Dharejo pointed out Irsa carried out water sharing on historic basis under three tiers formula in case there was shortage. But, Irsa applies Para-2 of the Water Accord if there is no shortage, he maintained.
He said construction of Raini Canal continued, which Wapda was executing. He said the project's latest report of progress in September 2009 suggesting 82 percent physical and 68 percent financial had completed.
Raini Canal has been declared as a "flood canal", the minister said, presently its water carrying capacity was 5000, cusecs, which could be improvised up to 10,000 cusecs in future. He said the canal fell in districts, including Ghotki, Sukkur, and Khairpur Mirs.
There is no proposal in consideration of the Sindh government to supply electricity at 50 percent of standard rate to poverty-hit rural areas of the province, Sindh Minister for Power Shazia Mari told the house while replying to a question.
Citing the Hesco data, she said, all 1873 villages had been provided with electricity in Sindh during 2008-09. She added two villages of Karachi were also electrified in the same period, according to the KESC data.
The house also approved an amendment bill 2001 into the law, setting a four-year service term for vice chancellor of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University in Lyari. The speaker prorogued the session ending the 17-day legislation in January.