CM orders probe into Kunri project delay

Karachi

The Sindh chief minister ordered the Anti-Corruption Establishment on Saturday to ascertain as to why the construction of a project in Kunri had not been completed yet despite the release of Rs195.878 million for it.

Qaim Ali Shah was presiding over a meeting of the agriculture department’s development schemes. He expressed his annoyance as to why the Mirch Mandi in Kunri had not been constructed yet.

The meeting was attended by finance minister Murad Ali Shah, agriculture minister Sardar Ali Nawaz Maher, chief secretary Siddique Memon, additional chief secretary (development) Mohammad Waseem, and agriculture secretary Shahid Gulzar Shaikh.

The agriculture secretary said three schemes worth Rs257.34 million had not been completed by the works and services department despite spending the entire allocated amount and now they are demanding Rs612.9 million more for completion of the schemes.

Giving details of the schemes, he said that Mirch Mandi at Kunri, District Umerkot was launched for Rs195.878 million.

The executing agency of the project is Works & Services. The entire cost of the project has been released and utilised but still the project is at plinth level.

Replying to a question of the chief minister, Gulzar said that the now they are demanding Rs600 million more to complete the schemes. As a matter of fact, Rs600 million happen to be 300 percent more than the original approved amount of the scheme.  

The chief minister expressing his displeasure said that the chili market at Kunri was most important project.  Sindh produces 90 percent of chilies in the country.

This is one of the Asia's largest markets.  "This scheme was envisaged to increase export of the chili and make the market - a hub of the country," he said and added "I cannot tolerate this kind of attitude and the concerned officers must face the music for their negligence or whatever it is."

The chief minister ordered chief secretary Siddique Memon to send the matter to the ACE and report him. Secretary Works & Services Aijaz Memon said that he would also conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Giving details of another scheme of repair work of Directorate of agriculture Extension and Directorate Training buildings, secretary Agriculture said that it was launched for Rs46.331 million, of which Rs46.316 million have been released and spent but the schemes is still incomplete and a demand of Rs6.9 million has been made for completion.  On this the chief minister directed the chief secretary to  send DG (P&D) for inspection of this scheme.

Talking about remaining works of Pesticides Testing Laboratory, Tando Jam, the agriculture secretary said that it was originally launched at Rs15.131 million and Rs14.131 million have been spent so far but now Rs6 million more were demanded for its completion. The chief minister also asked ACS P&D Mohammad Waseem to get the schemes inspected before revising it.

He said that the Agriculture department has five sub-ordinate departments/wings such as Agriculture Research, Agriculture Extension, Bureau of Supply & Prices, Agriculture Mechanization, water Management.

Secretary Agriculture Shahid said that over all 31 development schemes ( 20 on-going and 11 new) have been launched for Rs4.5 billion for all the five wings of the department.