KARACHI, March 3: Ted Anana of Eviction Watch, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights — a Bangkok-based organization, has called upon the authorities to review the Lyari Expressway project.
He was speaking at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, with other three members of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR).
Ted Anana was of the view that he was not against the Lyari Expressway, but added that the project requires some modification in accordance with the alternative plan.
He stressed that a review committee consisting of the government officials should review the project to carry out certain required modifications.
Ted Anana called for ensuring that minimum number of people are affected and that the affectees be adequately compensated in accordance with the market value of the property.
He said that the people be consulted and that there be dialogue to disseminate information about the project.
Ted Anana said that the ACHR has been assured that there would be improvements in the plan for the resettlement of the affectees.
“We will come back after six months to see whether the improvements have been effected”, he added.
Another member of the fact-finding mission of ACHR, Ms. Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, who is also the general-secretary of Indonesian Women Coalition for Justice and Democracy, spoke about the issue pertaining to the recognition of the ‘kutchi abadis’ in Islamabad.
She said that of the 31 such settlements in Islamabad only 11 have been accorded recognition.
Ms. Nursyahbani also called for fully compensating those affected owing to the Chashma Canal project.
Na Hyo Woo of the Community Organization in Asia, Seoul, South Korea, emphasised the need of social counselling.
Francisco Fernandez from the Philippines said that while undertaking development projects, it be ensured that something is done for those who are uprooted as a result of such activities.—APP
