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Today's Paper | November 28, 2024

Published 26 Feb, 2009 12:00am

DADU: Oil firm comes under fire at district council

DADU, Feb 25 President Asif Ali Zardari and chief of the BHP - oil and gas exploration company - have been urged to take action against Zamzama gas field officials for their alleged misuse of community welfare funds in connivance with the NGOs.

This was demanded by the Dadu District Council through a resolution adopted unanimously on Wednesday.

The council members threatened of halting supplies on the failure of Zamzama field officials' in utilising funds through the district government. They also demanded education and health services and free gas connections to Juhi villagers.

Ms Imtiaz Chandio tabled the resolution stating that the BHP was bound to utilising funds on community welfare Juhi from where it was extracting huge quantity of oil and gas since 1998.

She alleged that the company was releasing funds to their favourite NGOs who were misusing the money.

Allah Yar Rodhnani supporting the move said that the villages surrounding Zamzama gas field were facing shortage of drinking water, health and education problems while the company was spending millions on Islamabad police training.

He said that the company had employed even lower staff from other provinces, while local engineers were neglected in jobs. He alleged that officials, for the sake of record keeping, were releasing small amount to NGOs to run schools and health facilities. However, school administrations were charging Rs300 monthly fee from students.

He demanded that 12 per cent community funds should be used on the welfare of community through union councils and district government. Sikandar Leghari threatened to stop supplies to Zamzama gas field. Nazeer Leghari said that oil and gas were property of locals who were being neglected by officials.

District Naib Nazim Syed Hussain Shah warned of holding seminars, protests and evolving a strategy for ensuring rights to local people if their demands were not met.

Ahmed Khan Solangi demanded of President Zardari for ensured implementation of the agreement signed between the ministry of petroleum and BHP for oil and gas exploration.

Allah Yar Rodhnani presented a motion demanding reopening of 30 primary schools in union council Sawro.

Sikandar Leghari told the meeting that 40 primary schools were closed in union council Drigh Bala.

Members passed resolution and called on the Sindh government not to handover buildings of closed schools to NGOs and ensure opening of these schools.

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