DADU, Nov 21: A team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reached Dadu on Monday and conducted socio-economic survey of the area. The team was led by Fiza Qureshi, the gender and market specialist, Tasneem Bhatti, the social development and community mobilizer, and Dr Yamin Memon, the water specialist.

The team held a meeting with the Dadu taluka nazim, Naban Lund, and TMA officials.

Ms Qureshi told the meeting that the conditions of drainage and water supply were in pathetic condition in Badin, Naushahro Feroze and Dadu and the citizens of these localities were facing problems.

She said the ADP would give a loan of 50 million dollars to improve water supply, sanitation, sewerage and solid waste management.

The market specialist said that 40 per cent of the loan would be spent for the betterment of Katchi Abadis (villages) and the remaining 60 per cent would be spent in middle class areas.

Ms Bhatti alleged that the loan the ADB had given last time was not spent honestly. Therefore, the bank would keep a strict check on all plans and ideas this time.

The schemes could only start with the consultation of stake holders, NGOs, technical staff and citizens, she said firmly.

The community mobilizer said that the bank had completed the survey in Badin, Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur, while the survey at Dadu was still in progress.

She said the condition of sanitation, water supply and drainage was good in Khairpur as compared to other towns of Sindh.

Taluka Nazim Naban Lund said that people did not pay taxes so that the government would provide better facilities to them.

On the occasion, TMO Ali Anwar Gudaro, engineer Gulzar Khushik and Dr Memon advised the citizens to present the proposals for development of their areas.

Seven members of the ADB team, including Sajid Soomro, Shaheen Bhatti, Tufail Leghari, Fawad Ahmed, Samar Ali, Shiraz Ansari and Imran Memon, conducted the survey of the town.

PROTEST: A large number of people staged a demonstration outside the main camp of the ENI oil and gas exploration company at the Bhit gas field in the Sehwan taluka on Thursday.

The protesters were led by Sardar Raza Mohammad Gaincho.

They were demanding jobs for local people and land compensation for land owners.

The protesters were carrying clubs, banners and placards and were raising slogans against the officials of the company.

Speaking to the protesters, Raza Mohammad Gaincho alleged that people from other provinces were appointed by the company at key posts while hundreds of local graduates were deprived of jobs.