KARACHI, July 23: The committee set up by the city council on Lyari Expressway decided that all affectees of the expressway would be given compensation and alternative plots prior to demolition of their houses.

The meeting, presided over by Naib Nazi Tariq Hasan, was informed that a new site had been selected in Korangi where the affected could be rehabilitated after being dislodged from their houses in the Lyari river.

The meeting was attended by DCO Karachi Shafiq ur Rehman Paracha, EDO Finance Shoaib Siddiqui, EDO Works and Services Brig. Zaheer Qadri while the NHA was represented by project director of Col. Zulfiqar. The members of the committee are Nazims and city councillors of all respective union councils of the city from where the Lyari Expressway would pass through.

The meeting was informed that it would be a 16.5 km long expressway which would be built on both banks of the river Lyari, from Sohrab Goth to Mauripur within the city.

The cost of project is Rs5.5 billion and the width of the river at Sohrab Goth would be 2200 feet while it will be 4500 feet at Mauripur which has been decided by NHA after keeping in consideration the flow of river during last hundred years.

The maximum flow of water in Lyari river during the last 23 years was on July 5, 1977, when despite all precautionary efforts, 213 lives were lost and the city faced losses of about Rs 1 billion while the flow of water at Keamari rose to 24500 cusecs.

Col. Zulfiqar requested the elected representatives to extend cooperation for this important project which will have long-term benefits for the country and Karachi.

The committee was informed that two basic principals are being followed during the operation cleanup. First no demotion is being carried out unnecessarily and secondly each of the affectee will be given compensation and alternative plots prior to the operation at their property.

The committee was formed during the last session of City Council after a group of affectees belonging to Lyari Town staged a protest demonstration outside the council hall and convener Naib Nazim decided to form a committee to oversee the operation.

The Naib Nazim acknowledged the importance of Lyari Expressway and praised the government for initiating the project which had been in limbo for the last many years.

However, he added that safeguarding the rights of people living on project site is also the responsibility of the city government and it will be ensured.

A number of members, Najmi Alam, Salman Mirza, Siddique Rathore, Razzaq Siddique, spoke on the occasion and demanded better placement for the affectees.

It was also decided to facilitate those groups and biradaries who would like to settle together after demolition of their property for the operation.

It was decided that the Nazim City will visit the area along with NGOs to personally witness that operation is being carried out as per the scheduled guidelines. —PPI