KARACHI, March 1: The Sindh Local Government has asked the city government to implement the decision of the Anti-Corruption Committee No-1 regarding cancellation of the allotment of land slices to different societies out of Gutter Baghicha.

In a recent communication to City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, the local government department has drawn nazim's attention towards delay in implementation of the decision taken by the ACC-1 in its meeting held on Sept 12, 2001, but despite a lapse of over two years, the decision has neither been complied with nor any progress has been intimated.

The Gutter Bagicha is one of the two central parks promised to the citizens by President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his visit to the city, in connection with his referendum campaign, in April 2001, which are yet to take off.

Its appellation of 'gutter' originates from storm-drainage channels of the Lyari River, which, later also carried the sewage from the adjoining areas to the place, then used for growing cereals, green fodder and vegetables.

The Baghicha, originally spread over 1,017 acres amenity plot and was known as sewage farm, but now its area had been reduced to some 480 acres, which is a manifestation of massive corruption and misuse of authority by different governments.

Moreover, no steps have been taken to save the remaining open space of the Baghicha from illegal allotments, nor any efforts have been made for cancellation of these allotments and encroachments to restore back the amenity plot for its conversion into the park.

However, once sprawling sewage farm, where, according to the Karachi Guide & Directory 1915, "cereals, green fodder and vegetables were grown and sold at a considerable profit to the garden department of the municipality," is now marred by all sorts of encroachments.

Located near the city centre, the amenity plot, described in the documents as "The sewage farm," has been allowed, by successive city administrations to be progressively encroached upon for non- conforming uses, including Kachchi Abadis, marble workshops, industrial units and dumping of garbage and filth from different towns of the city.

In numerous government maps and documents over the past 100 years the Baghicha has been shown as "Municipal Garden" and the KMC budget documents of as late as 1993-94 show the income from Gutter Baghicha Park.

The slices taken from the amenity plot have been allotted for non-amenity uses, including KMC Officers Cooperative Housing Society (200 acres), Ismailia Garden CHS (over seven acres), Safia Begum and others (two plots, covering 10,788 sq yds), petrol pump, ten factories (8.3 acres), cottage industry plots and illegal water hydrants, according to the official documents.

Remaining land of Gutter Baghicha can be developed as a park to preserve nature for the citizens. It can also be converted into a forest by massive plantation, besides making it a botanical garden to display a variety of tropical and sub-tropical flora and fauna of the Asia Pacific region.