KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a meeting of local bodies of Karachi-KMC, DMCs, and district council on Saturday, directed them to take appropriate measures during the rain emergency period so that the life and property of the citizens could be secured.

The meeting was attended by Minister Local Govt Syed Nasir Shah, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P and D Hassan Naqvi, Secretary LG Najam Shah, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Administrator KMC Saif Rehman, MC KMC Shujaat, MD SSWMB Imtiaz Shah, MD KWSB Salahuddin MD, PD SWEEP Zubair Channa, PD CLICK Asif Jan, administrators of DMC and district council.

The chief minister said that there was a forecast of heavy rains which could cause urban flooding, therefore monitoring of the nullahs for their smooth flow must be ensured. “Recently all the major three nullahs have been cleaned and lined, therefore there should be no problem in the disposal of rainwater into them,” he said and added the connecting nullah falling in the jurisdiction of the DMCs and district councils must be maintained.

Mr Shah said that he has noticed that people were dumping debris along the embankments of the nullas. “This is unacceptable, and I have already directed the police to impound such vehicles and take strict action against them,” he said and warned the DMCs to ensure that no vehicle could dare to download or dump debris along the embankment of the nullahs within their limits.

Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah briefing the chief minister said that he has already held a number of rain emergency meetings with local bodies. He assured the chief minister that local bodies were prepared enough to meet the rain emergency.

Improvement of revenue: The chief minister directed KMC and DMCs to take necessary measures to increase their revenues. “My government would keep supporting the local bodies but, in principle, the local bodies have to generate their revenues, improve their recoveries and try to be self-sufficient,” he said.

Murad Ali Shah said that recovery of property tax has been handed over to the local bodies - DMCs and district council- and they have to ensure an increase in the recoveries. “If the local bodies administrations focus on the proper recoveries of property tax they would be able to meet all their financial requirements, including carrying out development works in their respective areas,” he observed. The CM also directed the water board to improve its recovery and financially stabilize the organization.