CDWA project in Sindh suffering delay.

ISLAMABAD , November 15, 2009 (Frontier Star): At the end of 2007, the federal government established the federal project management unit of the clean drinking water for all project under the administrative control of ministry of industries, production and special initiatives (now ministries special initiatives) and entrusted the task of providing universal access to clean drinking water to it. According to details, CDWA project was launched simultaneously in Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP in the beginning of 2008. The project cost for Sindh Balochistan and NWFP was Rs 1.8 billion, 730 million and 2.4 billion respectively, according to a report of World Bank. This project was supposed to be completed in Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP by Dec 2008. In Sindh only 204 plants have been installed while, in Balochistan and NWFP 92% of the project has been completed. In NWFP the project progress suffered set back to the expiry of the bank guarantee furnished by the contractor for encashment of the mobilization advance. The average per unit cost of CDWA project in Sindh and Balochistan is Rs 1.6 million while in case of NWFP it is Rs 2.2 million. In Punjab CDWA project could not begin because contractor failed to furnish the required performance guarantee. The contract for CDWA project in Punjab have recently been awarded at the average per units cost of around 2.6 millions. The CDWA project in Balochistan is near completion because of its ownership by the concerned provincial government. However in case of Sindh the ownership of this project is missing. In Sindh the total of 1005 water filtration plants were planned to be installed in each union council by the end of 2008 with possibly of increasing the number of plants on the basis of need assessment. The CDWA project in Sindh is badly threatened by the inattention and lack of ownership on part of the provincial government. The delay on the part of Sindh government to implement of this project of great public interest seems to defeat the federal governments resolve of freeing the people of Sindh from water born disease. The timely completion of the CDWA project is designed to save lives of million who suffer disease flowing from contaminated water but even the project of such an immense public utility has not been spared by some officials having selfish motives. The CDWA project Sindh is being executed by the public health engineering Department (PHED). According to sources in ministry of special initiatives the federal government transferred funds amounting to Rs. 398 million to the Sindh government for the successful implementation of the project in Sindh long ago however the finance department of the Sindh government has not yet release the funds to the PHED Sindh, which happens to be designated implementing agency of the province. It is shocking that the financial performance of the Sindh government is zero despite the fact that the contractor has operational zed nearly 200 plants in Sindh which has also been duly verified by PHED Sindh after prerequisite inspection completed since many months. Reportedly the bills submitted by the contractor from time to time have not been paid except for nominal payment in respect of 11 units. The continued non payment to the contractor has not only delayed further progress of the project but also sets a bad example for the overall investment climate in the province as noticed in the world bank study report. The Sindh government has been accusing of poor governess and rampant corruption by the World Bank in their report "Securing Sindhs future the prospect and future ahead". According to this report the development in the province is badly suffering due to mismanagement, non-compliance with the procedures, overlapping approval process, and complex financial system. The report characterizes water supply schemes as the worst sufferer of such administrative bottlenecks, besides, other projects of schools and hospitals. The World Bank has report recommended the introduction of a single file, a single agency implementation system, computerization and transparency for all projects of Sindh government. The chief secretary Sindh has made efforts to clear out the glitches facing the CDWA project but it is unbelievable that some officials of the Sindh government dont let any sincere initiative of the government succeed.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)