KARACHI:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly was informed on Wednesday that the Rs61.985 billion Right Bank Drainage II (RBOD-II) project has been declared non-feasible and structurally compromised, despite spending over Rs40 billion, prompting the provincial irrigation department to refuse further work on the project.
The 273-kilometer project, stretching from Sehwan to the Arabian Sea, has remained stalled since 2015, mainly due to the absence of a consultant and dwindling financial resources. Officials told the committee that completing the project would now require an additional Rs 300 billion, raising serious concerns about its viability.
The PAC, which met under the chairmanship of Nisar Khuhro, directed the provincial government to formulate a plan for setting up a desalination and recycling plant near Manchar Lake to treat toxic effluents from RBOD-I and RBOD-III. The committee also called for resumption of work on RBOD-II and directed the chief secretary to ensure immediate appointment of a consultant.
During the session, Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero informed the participants that the department had taken a political decision to halt work on RBOD-II, citing extensive structural damage caused by floods and deteriorating condition of the project.
He said the project could not proceed until the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) installed a recycling plant to prevent untreated toxic water from entering Manchar Lake. A meeting with the WAPDA president is scheduled for July 16 to address the issue.
Khero further said that the route of RBOD-II, which crosses the Indus River, has added to its technical challenges, making the project increasingly unfeasible.
Expressing concern, PAC Chairman Khuhro wondered why the authorities had failed to compel WAPDA over the years to install the required treatment facilities. “If the government decides to abandon the project, it should officially announce its closure,” he said, adding that the commission would then cease further review.
Committee member Qasim Soomro warned that untreated effluent flowing into Hamal and Manchar lakes could contaminate not only the lakes but also the Indus river, posing a serious environmental threat.
The PAC reiterated that RBOD-II remains a critical project for Sindh and urged the provincial government to prioritize measures for safe disposal and treatment of salt water. According to officials, the RBOD project was launched in 2001 with an initial cost of Rs 14 billion, which was later revised several times to Rs 61.885 billion.
