HYDERABAD, July 14: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ai Shah has approved a summary for granting Rs1.4 billion to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) of the Hyderabad Development Authority to enable the agency to clear dues of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco).

Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari told journalists while inaugurating a three-day anti-polio campaign at taluka hospital Qasimabad on Saturday that of Rs1.4 billion, Wasa had paid the first instalment of Rs300 million to Hesco and clear the rest of dues through similar instalments.

He expressed the hope that the power utility would avoid disconnecting power supply to the agency’s installations in future.

About payment of salary to Wasa employees, Mr Bhurgari, who is also president of the Hyderabad chapter of the PPP, said that a bailout package for the agency had been submitted to the chief minister for approval and the agency would be able to pay dues of employees and resolve other financial issues after getting funds under the package.

In view of expected heavy rain, the minister said, the district administration was implementing a comprehensive contingency plan which included de-silting of uncovered drains and sewerage lines and activation of faulty pumping machines of sewage pumping station.

Besides, generators had been made available at the pumping stations to continue water disposal operation in case of power failure, he added.

About anti-polio campaign, the minister said that over 700 vaccination teams had been formed to administer anti-polio drops to children by going house to house in different areas of the district.

A taskforce comprising 2,000 people had been engaged in vaccination process and to monitor the campaign, he said.—APP