The Sindh Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Wednesday that the Rs61.985 billion Right Bank Outfall Drain-II (RBOD-II) project has been declared non-feasible and structurally compromised, despite the expenditure of over Rs40 billion. This has triggered the Provincial Irrigation Department to refuse further work on the scheme.
Project Details and Current Status
The 273-kilometre project, stretching from Sehwan to the Arabian Sea, has remained stalled since 2015, primarily due to the absence of a consultant and dwindling financial resources. Officials told the committee that completing the project would now require an additional Rs300 billion, raising serious concerns over its viability.
During the session, Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero informed participants that the department had taken a policy decision to halt further work on RBOD-II, citing extensive structural damage caused by floods and the deteriorating condition of the project. He said the scheme could not proceed until the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) installs a recycling plant to prevent untreated toxic water from entering Manchar Lake.
Committee Directives and Concerns
The PAC, which met under the chairmanship of Nisar Khuhro, directed the provincial government to devise a plan for installing a desalination and recycling plant near Manchar Lake to treat toxic effluents flowing from RBOD-I and RBOD-III. The committee also called for resumption of work on RBOD-II and instructed the chief secretary to ensure the immediate appointment of a consultant.
Expressing concern, PAC Chairman Khuhro questioned why authorities had failed to compel WAPDA over the years to install the required treatment facility. "If the government has decided to abandon the project, it should formally announce its closure," he said, adding that the committee would then cease further scrutiny.
Environmental and Technical Challenges
Committee member Qasim Soomro warned that untreated effluent flowing through Hamal and Manchar lakes could contaminate not only the lakes but also the Indus River, posing a serious environmental threat. Khero further stated that the alignment of RBOD-II, which passes through the Indus River, has added to its technical challenges, making the project increasingly unfeasible.
The PAC reiterated that RBOD-II remains a critical project for Sindh and urged the provincial government to prioritise measures for safe disposal and treatment of saline water. A meeting with the WAPDA chairman is scheduled for July 16 to address the issue.
Historical Context and Cost Escalation
According to officials, the RBOD project was launched in 2001 with an initial cost of Rs14 billion, which was later revised multiple times to Rs61.885 billion. The massive cost overrun and structural issues have led to the current impasse.
