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KARACHI, Aug 9: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Saturday visited the devastated areas of Lyari Town, where rainfall had severely damaged the civic infrastructure.
Accompanied by a team of civic engineers and officials, the Nazim drove to Agra Taj Colony (UC-1), one of the worst affected areas.
The rainwater and overflowing sewage has submerged the roads and streets, besides damaging the houses in the locality, situated near the Lyari River, and the stinking stagnant water has made civic life miserable there.
During his drive, the Nazim visited Niazi Chowk, Darayabad, Nawabad, Shah Waliullah Road, Shah Latif Bhittai and Baghdadi localities, according to Niab Nazim of Lyari Town, Malik Mohammad Awan.
Talking to DAWN, Mr Awan said the Nazim ordered the concerned officials to take urgent steps for draining out the stagnant water and replacing the damaged sewerage lines.
The Nazim pledged that the City Government would provide funds for carrying out repair works as well as for development work, in the Lyari Town, Mr Awan said.
It is learnt that the Nazim was earlier informed that the Town was in dire need of adequate funds to carry out its development activities, which suffered a huge setback due to the monsoons rains.
The Lyari Town Niab Nazim said that even the salaries of the Town employees could not be paid so far.
The City Nazim ordered the Water and Sewerage Department to replace all the damaged lines within three days, adding he would visit the Town again to get the feedback.
Out of 11 union councils in the Town, eight union councils, including Agra Taj Colony (UC-1), Darayabad (UC-2), Nawabad (UC-3), Khadda Memon Society (UC-4), Baghdadi (UC-5), Shah Beg Lane (UC-6) and Bihar Colony, have been badly affected by the rains.
UC’S ROLE: To devolve power to the grassroots level, union councils have been assigned special role in the new local government system, so that UC Nazims can participate in policymaking being members of city council.
This was stated by City Naizm Naimatullah Khan on Saturday while speaking to town nazims, officials and union council Nazims of Gulshan- e-Iqbal, Jamsahid, Shah Faisal, Baldia, Malir and Site towns, in connection with the ongoing health and cleanliness drive.
He said that city government, despite its limited resources, had given Rs15 million to each town, besides provision of Rs0.3 million to each town for the cleanliness and health drive.
He further said that these funds were given for disposal of garbage and drainage of sewage and rainwater to clear the mess created by recent rains.
The Nazim said that city government had not launched this drive to gain popularity, but its goal, he said, was to clean the city, and projection of this campaign on media was aimed at making the people aware of what city government was doing in the interest of the city, he added.
He said that machinery and vehicles had been provided to each town on equality basis and Rs1 billion had been earmarked in this regard.
Terming transfer of powers to Naib Nazim Orangi illegal, he maintained that Mohammad Shahid was Nazim of the town according to the rules, and powers would be transferred to him.
He announced that Shahrah-e-Orangi would be built soon.
Earlier, Nazims of towns and union councils informed him about problems being faced by them and vowed to make the campaign a success.—PPI
