In order to formalise expenditure of Rs 5 billion from the loan of $405 million, provided to Sindh government the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) delegation has arrived in Karachi to inspect the rehabilitation work of Indus and non-Indus dykes, well-placed sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
The Sindh government had a received loan of $405 million from Asian Development Bank in the first week of April 2011 for the rehabilitation of flood-damaged Indus and non-Indus dykes and restoration of infrastructure of badly affected 8 districts including Dadu, Larkana, Qmabar-Shahdadkot, Khairpur Mir's, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Ghotki.
Before the approval by the loan of ADB, Sindh government had started the work on 41 rehabilitation schemes of Indus and non-Indus dykes on emergency basis and had released the amount of Rs 5 billion. During the loan negotiations, the ADB team had assured the Sindh government that they would inspect the work and if they would allow the reimbursement of the Rs 5 billion from the loan already provided to Sindh government.
The ADB's delegation headed by Raza Farukh, Senior specialist for Irrigation issues met with the Secretary Irrigation Khalid Memon at his office. Irrigation officials briefed the delegation about the rehabilitation work of Indus and non-Indus dykes in detail, sources said.
The ADB delegation was provided all documents including PC-1, tenders, etc by the irrigation officials for study. A few members of delegation would also inspect the work sites, sources said. The delegation would also hold meetings with Sindh Government's consultant for the rehabilitation work, Idris Rajput and other concerned officials during the visit, sources added.
An official of Irrigation department told Business Recorder on the condition of anonymity that visit of delegation was being considered important because experts on irrigation development issues are members of the delegation. Additional Secretary Irrigation Mazhar Ali Shah said that delegation would inspect the work of rehabilitation of Indus and non-Indus bunds including L.S bund, Aqil Agani Bund, Tori Bund, M.S bund, P.B bund and other 41 schemes.
He said that work was initiated in the last week of March 2011 on emergency basis as Sindh government wanted to rehabilitate all flood-damaged bunds before upcoming flood season in July-August 2011. He said that major rehabilitation work of Indus and non-Indus dykes would be completed by end of June within the released budget of Rs 5 billion and another Rs 10 billion required for the completion of remaining schemes would be allocated in Annual Development Programme 2011-12.