Karachi:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said Monday that some politically immature and orphans were talking about imposition of Article 149 to bring Karachi under federal government’s rule was mere a bubble of hot air.
This he said while talking to media just after visiting different districts of the city to review offal lifting and on-going cleaning work of a major drain. He was accompanied by Minister Education Saeed Ghani, Minister Local Government Nasir Shah and his Advisor Murtaza Wahab.
A journalist asked the CM that a federal minister and some other responsible people had given statements that under Article 149 of the Constitution, Karachi would be given under the administrative control of federal government. The chief minister replied him that the statement was beyond his comprehension. “It is a bubble of hot air and would fizzle out itself,” he said and advised the media not to take political immature and orphans seriously.
To another question, Shah said that during the recent heavy downpour of July 26 and 27, rain water accumulated and flooded those areas where traditionally it used to be disposed of in gravity. “During my visit I met with the people of District Central and they pointed out design defects in Green Line project,” he said and added “Reham Hashmi, the Chairman of DMC Central, gave me a detailed briefing on the defects of Green Line project and personally showed me all those areas where the pillars of Green Line Infrastructure have either been constructed within nala or along the nalas, therefore they have blocked smooth disposal of rain water,” he said.
The CM urged Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (SIDCL) or what it is knows as KIDCL to consult with the local people before launching any project. “The discussion would reduce the chances of duplication of the works and design defects,” he said.
Murad Shah said that he has been releasing funds to clean the nalas from last many year. “Yes, the nalas are being cleaned every year but due to encroachment issues some of the portions of nalas are always left over from clearing, therefore they get choked during heavy rains,” he said.
The chief minister said that under the World Bank project, SWEEP, the nalas of the city were being cleaned. “I am telling the people loudly that the World Bank has not released funds so far and whatever funds are being utilized have been released by his government from its own resources,” he said. He added that he would redress all the major issues of drainage and infrastructure in consultation with KMC and KDA. He said that would visit Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar where the next spell of heavy down pour was anticipated to hit high from August 6.
Qayoomabad: The chief minister visited offal dumping site at Qayoomabad where a proper camp was set up to record the weight of offal being brought there.
Briefing the Chief Minister MD Sinha Solid Waste Management Board, Kashif Gulzar said that upto August 2, over 31050 tons of offal have been lifted from six districts the city, including 7892 from South, 9351 East, 3738 Malir, 5918 West and 4151 Korangi while the figure of central was yet to be compiled.
The chief minister was told that 85 offal collection points have been set up all over the city from where they were being dumped at Gondpas, Jam Chakro, near Sharafi Goth, and Korangi Crossing.
Mahmoodabad Nala: The chief minister, just after visiting Qayoomabad, went to Mahmoodabad Nala known as Zahri House Nalla, at Shahrah-e-Faisal where a major choking point was dug up to clear it.
PD SWEEP Zubair Channa told the chief minister that the Mahmoodabad Nalla coming from Tipu Sultan was clear but it has a serious choking point under Shahrah-e-Faisal Road. The chief minister examined the portion of the nala located under the Shahrah-e-Faisal Road and notice that its design was in zigzag shape. “This zig zag nala under the road will always remain to be a problematic point, therefore a straight crossing should be constructed under the road along the existing zigzag culvert.,” he said and directed PD Sweep to reconstruct it accordingly.
Gujar Nala: When Sindh Chief Minister reached Gujar Nala at Liaquatabad No.4, people of the area gathered and told the chief minister that rain water had choked the drain, as a result, the rain water mixed with sewage gushed into their streets and house. The chief minister then called the municipal commissioner, Central and directed him to clear their homes and report him. The chief minister also visited offal collection point set up near Eidgah Ground, district Central.
Green Line issues: Chairman DMC Central Rehan Hashmi briefing the chief minister at Saifee College said that the pillar of Green Line Project had been constructed within the drain. “This construction has narrowed down the drain, therefore, rain water could not get through, as a result it [nala] overflowed and flooded the entire area.”
Chairman DMC Central said that the entire track of Green Line project from KDA Chowrangi to Nagan Chowrangi have been constructed either along the nala or within the nala. He added that this was the serious design defect of the Green Line and without rectifying it the area could not be made safe from havocs of heavy downpour.
Hashmi said the Hyderi Market was inundated with rainwater because the drain was blocked due to the construction of the Green Line. The chief minister visited Nagan Chowrangi, KDA Chowrangi and Hyderi Market and personally inspected the problematic points of Green Line. Rehan Hashmi had pointed out. The chief minister assured the chairman that he would take up the matter with the federal government and resolve the design defects of the project.