KARACHI – Many small schemes at the Ghotki Miner Canal project, Phuleli Canal Rehabilitation, Nara Irrigation System, Renni Canal and modernization of Sukkur Barrage have been completed and are ready to be inaugurated by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, said Sindh Irrigation & Drainage Development Authority (SIDA) Project Director Ehsan Leghari on Thursday at a meeting at the CM House to discuss various irrigation development projects being built by the authority.
Leghari said that the World Bank has provided USD 150 million for the Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project, and another USD 25million have been given by the provincial government.
He said that there were five major components of the project, including community development and capacity building, rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation and drainage system; management plan for major I&D infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation; impact and environmental management plan and project coordination, monitoring, technical assistance and training.
The CM said that SIDA has initiated various projects at a total cost of USD 175 million, which was necessary considering that the flood of 2010 washed away most of the infrastructure. A team of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) led by Dr Walter Klamm appreciated the role of SIDA in constructing irrigation and drainage schemes.
FAO team leader in the WSIP project, Dr Ylli Dedja, said that there is significant progress under the projects being managed by SIDA.
