HYDERABAD, June 14: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that he has directed the irrigation authorities to release water from Sukkur Barrage to eliminate contamination in the river water.

He was speaking at a meeting of the provincial and district government officials at the district nazim secretariat here on Sunday. Mr Rahim said that the provincial government was providing financial assistance to the Hyderabad district government, Wasa and the HDA to improve water supply system of the city.

He said that it was up to the district government to come up to the expectations of people, warned that the Sindh government would take action against any local government on account of negligence and asked nazims not to misuse their authority.

He said that the Sindh government had constituted a committee to ascertain facts that led to supply of contaminated water to Hyderabad, causing deaths of several persons.

He added that the committee was headed by Sindh secretary, works and services, Ashfaq Ahmed Memon, with agriculture secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi, Hyderabad District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman and Mirpurkhas DCO Siddique Memon as members.

Some MPAs, WHO and Unicef officials and taluka nazims of City, Latifabad, Qasimabad and Tando Allahyar attended the meeting.

LAW AND ORDER: Presiding over a law and order meeting, the chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction over lack of coordination between investigation and operation wings of police and called for close coordination between them.

He proposed that both the wings should be under the administrative control of one officer. Provincial Police Officer Syed Kamal Shah briefed him about law and order situations in Hyderabad and Sukkur regions and operation against bandits in Shah Belo forest.

The Hyderabad district nazim was not invited to the meeting. The chief minister expressed reservations over alleged misuse of funds for police operation against bandits in Shah Belo forest and asked the PPO to ensure fair utilisation of funds.

He told police officers that he needed results and would not tolerate incompetent police officials, adding that their performance would be monitored by him. He said that protection of life and property of people was basic duty of any government and promised funds, latest equipment and residential facilities to the Sindh police to enable them to combat terrorism.

Mr Rahim underscored the need for intensifying highway patrolling and protecting sensitive installations on the highways. He said that rewards announced by the previous government for outstanding police officers would be given and added that postings in the department would be made on merit basis.

COMPENSATION: The chief minister distributed Rs200,000 each as compensation among the heirs of four persons who had died due to consumption of contaminated water in Hyderabad. The DCO told him that addresses of other victims were being obtained for distribution of cheques among them.