KARACHI, Jan 27: The concerned government agencies have been engaged for the past few days in an intensive consultations to chalk out a joint strategy to meet the impediments likely to be faced in the second phase of the anti-encroachment drive on the banks of Lyari River, it is learnt here.

The second phase from Mewashah Bridge up to Dhobigate and onwards, covering an area of three kilometres which was to begin on Thursday, was deferred on the pressure of land mafia who raised objections to the demarcation of the land, demanding adjustments to protect their residential units.

An official of the city government, supervising the anti- encroachments, conceded that certain elements had raised objections on this account but he said it was all misconception and efforts were being made to remove the confusion.

He said the city Nazim would visit the site by Monday to meet the people who have been demanding some adjustments in the present demarcation lines.

An official of the National Highway Authority (NHA), when contacted, ruled out any possibility of change in the design of the proposed expressway along the banks of Lyari River.

The NHA official said there was no justification for demanding any revision in the design of the expressway which was prepared by experienced consultants after taking into consideration all the aspects of the project, including the flow of flood water from the river’s head up to the sea.

Moreover, he said, the study for piling columns and soil testing had been carried out many times.

The official was confident that despite all odds and pressure the work on the project would continue as directed by the President and said the ongoing anti-encroachment drive would resume on Tuesday.

LEGAL NOTICE: In a related development, a UAE consortium firm, Central Asian Links Limited, having office in Karachi, has served a legal notice (dated 24-1-2002) to the secretary, Sindh Local Government, claiming to be the legal client of the project.

It claimed that the Lyari Expressway Project had been awarded to its client having office at the UAE under the name of Consortium Group 4 on January 11, 1996, by the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

Accordingly, it said, a project company, Central Asian Links Limited, was incorporated and an agreement was drafted and negotiated by the project company and the defunct KMC officials.

Not only that, foreign funds were arranged and engineering designs, plans and surveys were conducted. Traffic surveys were carried out and a feasibility report was also prepared.

Besides, two presentations to Sindh chief minister were made - - on 20-8-1996 and 12-6-1997.

Moreover, international contracts were also finalized, which subsequently had short listed the sub-contractors through open tenders.

It maintained that the firm had fulfilled the requirements of the project, on submission of which the then administrator of the defunct KMC had promised that the final agreement would be signed between the KMC and its client.

It claimed that the defunct KMC had finalized the agreement but failed to sign the agreement after six years. But the government has awarded the contract to the National Highway Authority in violation of the contractual obligations, it said.

A copy of the legal notice was also sent to federal secretary, ministry of communications, and the NHA chairman.