NAWABSHAH, March 10: Work on development schemes worth Rs100 million has been suspended by contractors on the pretext of a rise in prices of steel , cement and bricks.

A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that schemes which were badly affected included construction of 23 primary schools, eight middle schools and three high schools in education works.

In the building department on-going extension of the Taluka Hospital Sakrand, the construction of 50-bed hospital in Manuabad, construction of a museum in Nawabshah, construction of five new dispensaries in Punho Jamali, Allah Bux Kumbhar, Shah Inayat, Dorai Mahar and Dost Mohammad Hisbani villages were affected.

Work was also suspended on the ICU and jail ward in the People's Medical College Hospital and construction of agricultural expo-zone in Sakrand. In public health department, drainage, sewage and water supply schemes of the KPP, amounting Rs12 million, including drainage schemes of Nawab Wali Mohammad village, Razabad, Daur, drainage repair scheme in Doulatpur repair schemes of sewerage in UC-1, UC-2, and UC-6 of Nawabshah and water supply schemes in Bandhi were affected.

District Nazim Faryal Talpur expressed her concern over the sudden increase in rates and said it was not possible to complete schemes if the position remained same.

NAZIM: District Nazim Faryal Talpur has said that the district government is planning to install water purification plants in every union council of the district.

She was speaking after inaugurating third water purification plant in the city donated by the Indus Rangers at Manuabad on Tuesday. Ms Talpur said the rangers had taken a very bold step by installing filter plants for the people.

The Indus Rangers, commandant, colonel Naeem Sadiq said the work had been done on welfare basis and so far three plants had been installed in the city. Nazim UC-4 Shafiq Qureshi, DG Indus Rangers Major Imran Mughal, People's Party Parliamentarians MPA Tariq Masood Arain were also present on the occasion.

WAPDA: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement has demanded that the federal government should hand over the control of Wapda to provinces.

A resolution to this effect was passed in a meeting of the PONM, Sindh, held in Sakrand on Monday and attended by Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, Dr Qadir Magsi of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Zain Shah of Jeay Sindh Mahaz and others.