During the past few weeks, the City Government Karachi (CDGK) has been relentlessly pursuing the various proposed mega projects for the city. Mono rail options, rapid rail transit projects, large land development schemes of various sorts
, de-salination plants and large scale bulk water conveyor projects are few of the active portfolios that the CDGK has been zealously running after.
As obvious, most of these projects are 'stand alone' initiatives with doubtful prospects in the respective sectors. Without resorting to the slightest reference to realities, the learned decision-makers for the CDGK are not learning from the vast treasure of development experiences that have been gained over the various decades in this city.
Under the clandestine pressure from the automobile manufacturers, the CDGK has been delaying the implementation of Karachi Circular Railways as a means of heap and accessible transport.
According to the alternative plan prepared by the local consultants, a total of Rs12 billion shall be needed to re- vitalize the entire exiting loops for the system. However the project is much cheaper compared to the various type of mass transit options on elevated corridors which are estimated to cost at least four times this value. An efficiently running circular railways shall have many positive impacts on the city management.
There will be a distribution of commuters load from the busy streets and junctions to this parallel model for transport. It will relieve traffic congestion on streets and help boost the land values along the depressed corridors from where the railways now pass.
If built indigenously, as was suggested by eminent Pakistani experts, it will facilitate at least a partial revival of railway related industries. What it requires is a strong political will and foresight to undertake the project through very modest but efficient mechanisms.
It must be noted with concern that with the prevailing rate of increase in the number of automobiles, which safely stands at over 11 percent per annum, the city streets will not be able to accommodate this ever rising numbers. With hardly anyone major road artery being planned or constructed, the situation is invariably grave.
Successive administrations in the water utility have focused on the inception and development of large scale supply projects for the city. True, the city is acutely short of water but the reasons of shortage are several and can not be solved by merely pumping more water into the city.
According to a former Managing Director of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), as much as 35 percent of the total water supplied to the city is lost due to water thefts, leakage and pilferages.
A foremost need is to scientifically check this phenomenon so that the actual water supply does not falter beyond permissible limits. The water utility has accumulated over Rs 46 billion in various kind of debts from international finance institutions (IFIs) and the government.
If more mega projects shall be launched without taking precautions for efficiency, the debt burden will undoubtedly rise beyond all logical ends. Being a utility which hardly recovers dues and service charges, the possibility of revenue generation are bleak.
It is however encouraging to note that the present management of KWSB has taken cognizance of this weakness and declared revenue recovery as the foremost task for the current year.
One of the worst performance that the CDGK has shown is in the domain of municipal solid waste disposal. According to the prevailing distribution of responsibilities, Union Council is responsible to lift the garbage from households and dump it along the kachra kundis (street level dumping points).
Town Municipal Administration is supposed to lift the garbage from the kundi and transport it to either a mid way transfer point or the main dumping site. It is recently learnt that the CDGK intends to transform simple garbage transfer points into a high value transfer stations development scheme.
It is envisaged that around 30 such structures will be developed at a hefty cost of Rs1 billion. In the absence of adequate recyclable articles in the waste - which are taken out at source or primary disposal - it appears a very costly design venture.
It is important to note that municipal sanitary workers are one of the most stable staff cadre in their own right and respect. If managed properly, they can turn into a useful human asset. Poor management of labour, corruption, lack of supervision and an absence of vision about the whole waste management system are few problems.
A binding attempt for all the domains of development is urban planning. It is deplorable to observe that it is totally neglected in the present situation for obvious reasons. A valid plan, with duly approved status, shall pose a considerable hindrance in the operations of vested interests.
Adhoc physical development, blatant land use conversions, haphazard planning and development of structures along streets and unscientific decision making pertinent to infrastructure and transportation are few ills that will be impeded by the master plan. No politicians, builder / developer lobby, informal transport operators and other similar actors would be happy when a valid master plan is put in place.
Thus the CDGK is only delaying the initiation of a viable city planning process for the city. This is dangerous because the multi-directioned urban growth, development and expansion will let the city move totally out of the government's control.
The CDGK and its sister institutions should attempt to set their development priorities in the larger interest of the city. Before conceiving and initiating projects, the CDGK must study the potential inputs carefully.
This is normally undertaken in the framework of city planning where development options are weighed for their technical, financial and socio-economic merit before adoption for implementation. It must be initiated without delay. The existing resources must be utilized for streamlining the solid waste sector.
Existing cadre of sanitary workers need to be upgraded and mobilized to undertake at least the primary task of garbage dumping on the designated collection point. Specific contractors maybe hired to lift the garbage from these point to the transfer point or main dumping site.
Water distribution network needs a massive re-vamping. This is impossible without a physical assessment of underground supply lines. Retail distribution of water must be left to the union councils to mange valve operations.
Secondary and bulk supply must be monitored by the KWSB personnel. The CDGK must take steps to revitalize the circular railways without delay. A public railway system is a norm in any large city for mass commuting needs.
