KARACHI - Complains of scarcity of water echoed in the Sindh Assembly, where MPAs from the political spectrum highlighted the issue and advised the government to take immediate measures to address the problem.The lawmakers across the political divide, wile discussing the provincial budget for FY2012-13, termed the scarcity of water for agriculture as well as drinking purpose was major problem of the people in their constituency. They complained that their districts were ignored in allocations in the budget.The Sindh Assembly, which met at 11.07am with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair on Friday, deferred the question-hour and started discussion on the budget. Speaking on provincial budget, MPA Rehan Zafar from MQM narrated the water woes of the Karachi and said that access to drinking water had become worst problem in many areas of the city.He demanded the government to enhance the allocation from one billion rupees to at least Rs10 billion for K-4 project in the budget, under which potable water facility would be enhanced for the Karachiites from existing source of Indus River through Keenjhar Lake in next five years. “If the government did not pay attention and allocate funds for K-4 project, the water problem of the city could be severed and possible protests may turn violent which currently witnessing in Punjab province nowadays,” he warned.MQM’s MPA further said that the water theft has become a profitable business as water mafias are involved in this crime in the city. At least 3 million gallons water was only being stolen in his constituency on daily basis through illegal hydrants that amounts to huge losses of about Rs30 million daily, he disclosed.He added that there are lacunas in the law as people involved in practice of water theft come out of jail on bail because the putting illegal water hydrant is bailable offence. He informed the House that Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has recently sent a summary to the provincial law department to bring amendments in the law and proposed to make water theft as non-bailable offence and enhance the punishment. But unfortunately the law department has not taken any action in this regard, he added. Speaking on the budget, he said that MPAs were given role in budget making process through standing committees of assembly, but they had no role in budget implementation. He added that huge amount was allocated for livestock and agriculture departments but the utilisation was not properly planned, demanding that assembly’s standing committees be empowered to monitor the budget spending. Sharing the deteriorating law and order situation in city, he said that the law enforcement officials has sent him a message to roam carefully as it was now a time of hand grenades, not bullets, to attack targets in the city. He said how could the LEAs protect people when they were unable to give security to an elected representative, he questioned.MPA Ali Murad Rajar of ruling PPP said that education has been deteriorated in rural areas as only education minister could not see the affairs of schools of the all over the province.He suggested for formation of district committees comprising of MPAs concerned and district authorities to monitor the school education.Rajar, who was elected from Umerkot district, opined that we politicians and parents are equally responsible for deterioration of school education.He appreciated the proposed project of the Zulfiqarabad city and port in Thatta district and said the new city would bring more job opportunities and progress for the locals.He welcomed the special packages for different districts, complaining that not a singly penny has been allocated for the Umerkot district, which is also deprived of development infrastructure. Narrating the problems of Thari people especially lack of health facilities for women, the PPP lawmaker told the house that most of the women die on the way to hospital due to complicity of pregnancy as gynecology ward facility was not present in the district hospital Umerkot.He demanded of the government to establish special gynecology hospital in Umerkot city, so the lives of the women could be saved.Another MPA Mir Muhammad Hayat Talpur of ruling PPP also narrated the same story of his constituency was ignored in the allocation of budget by his party’s government.He reminded that Digri and Jhudo Tehseels were severely affected in the rains last year as water still standing in many areas, besides the damaged roads still not repaired. He said the school buildings suffered damaged during rains of last year were in dilapidated condition, posing threats to the lives of the children. He urged the government to allocate funds to repair or construct new buildings of schools in his constituency. PPP legislator complained that not only irrigational water, but people of area facing problem of lack of drinking water. PML-F’s Ms. Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said allocations have been enhanced for every sector in the budget but utilisation remained poor during outgoing year. She demanded of the government to address the reservations of the locals of the Thatta before commencing of the Zulfikarabad city project. She also demanded the government arrange a briefing for lawmakers on the Zufliqarabad city project.Arbab Zulfiqar Ali of PML-Likeminded said that locals were deprived of jobs in Thar coal project. He said that without resettlement plan, the government has issued notices to the locals to vacate the villages come in the vicinity of the Thar coal project. He opposed the Zulfiqarabad project, terming it as anti-Sindh scheme.Arbab also complained of water scarcity in the Thar area, saying that people have not water for drinking purpose. MPA Anwar Alam of MQM said development works had come to a halt for last two to three years in districts of Sindh, while only 50% allocation of many of ADP schemes was utilized. He demanded that MPAs priority funds should be enhanced to Rs120 million from existing allocation of Rs60 million.Other MPAs including Syed Ghulam Shah Jillani and Dr Abdul Sattar Rajpar also took part in the budget discussion.Later, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the session to meet again today on Saturday.