KARACHI, Feb 11: The Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project at the Hawkesbay Road has become a unique model of community participation with the involvement of the residents in its day-to-day affairs.

The community participation in the project, where some 4000 families are being shifted, has been given a practical shape with the constitution of committees of the residents for handling matters related to health, education, water and sewerage, parks, electricity and mosques.

The committees were formed at a largely attended “open-air kutchehry” with Project Director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha in the chair.

The residents brought their problems to the notice of the project director who said that those could be dealt with more effectively with active participation of the residents.

He informed that the project would have nine schools, seven parks and mosques in each sector besides a Jama Masjid.

As regards facilities for water supply and sewerage disposal, Mr Paracha said that tenders had already been floated and the work would hopefully start after about a week, thereafter the residents would get tap water instead of fetching water from community tanks.

The project director told the people that the colony houses would start getting electricity connection in a week, for which the KESC had been paid Rs60 million.

Mr Paracha assured the residents that they would get round-the-clock medical service. About the shortage of water he said he had talked to the rangers and at no stage the residents would face any water problem. He agreed that 17 shops in the under-construction market would be given to the locals.

Mr Paracha also set up a coordination committee which will coordinate with the various committees and the project director.

Mr Paracha said that banks and the HBFC would be approached for grant of loans to needy residents.

On complaints about theft of water taps, he approved recruitment of four watchmen whose salaries would be paid by the project for one year. Responding to another demand, he said the settlement would also have a temple and a church. Mr Paracha also said that SSGC would be approached for provision of gas facility.

Over Rs300 million have been sanctioned for the development of the scheme.—APP