HYDERABAD, Aug 28: Work on development schemes in various sectors in Tando Allahyar district has come to a standstill for want of release of funds of Rs200 million by provincial government for completion of development works that were being executed under special package.

Moreover, the Jhando Mari taluka of the district had badly been affected in recent rains and a large number of people have been marooned but Sindh government has not announced relief measures.

It was learnt on Sunday through district government’s finance department sources that there are around 60 to 64 development schemes that were worked out in the district when it was carved out of Hyderabad district in April last year before holding of local bodies elections.

After local bodies elections were held in August,2005 and new district government, headed by the District Nazim Dr.Rahila Magsi, was formed.It undertook these schemes against the special grant of Rs100 million that were given by Sindh chief minister Dr.Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

According to a finance department source of district government, funds that were released against these schemes in the sectors of education, health and roads, around 54 schemes of roads, three of education and seven to eight of buildings were worked out.

The district government utilised around Rs97 million over these schemes by closure of outgoing fiscal year and another Rs200 million are required for completion of the schemes that had not yet been released.

The amount is to be released by provincial government because it was a special grant by provincial government.

The matter was reported to Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim who would issue directives to provincial government’s planning and development department for release of funds.

When the District Nazim Dr.Rahila Magsi was contacted, she said she had informed Sindh chief minister about utilisation of funds against the schemes under special package and that remaining amount of Rs200 million is to be released.

She said that when chief minister would return after performing Umrah the funds would be released to complete those work.

Meanwhile, a large number of people living in Jhando Mari taluka of Tando Allahyar district, were badly affected and marooned in recent heavy rains.

Out of six UCs of the taluka, situation is worse in UC Jhando Mari where water was standing in villages and crops.

The Sindh chief minister had released Rs10 million to Mirpurkhas and Sanghar districts for relief work after devastating rains caused large scale damages and affected people.

However, no such funds were released for relief work for the said taluka.

Around seven to eight relief camps were set up in school buildings by the district government and people, who were shifted to these centres.