KARACHI Oct 22: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has directed all town municipal officers of the city government to ensure removal of the garbage heaps lying in their respective areas within 15 days.

He also warned the TMOs that failing to ensure cleanliness in their areas within the stipulated time period might result in their suspension on account of negligence and inefficiency.

He issued these directives at a meeting held at the Governor's House to review cleanliness work in the city. The governor decided to warn the officials after visiting various parts of the city, to make the officials realize their responsibilities with regard to cleanliness work.

The meeting, attended by the TMOs, started with screening of a film report, showing heaps of garbage lying in different parts of the city, besides choked rainwater drains, and stagnant sewage around many playgrounds and mosques, till Thursday.

In the Azam Basti graveyard, shown in the film, piles of garbage had even covered many graves, while kitchen ducts of many houses were also noticed to be filled with garbage.

Jamshed Town, Saddar Town and Lyari Town were noticed to be comparatively more affected due to insanitary conditions. The film screened and presentation given today was an eye-opener for all the relevant quarters, he said.

He called for carrying out immediate cleanliness work on emergency basis in the city to improve the situation, making it clear that no excuses would be accepted in this regard.

Dr Ibad maintained that the officials failing to fulfil the tasks assigned to them with the available resources should move to some other posts instead of sticking to their present offices through recommendations.

"Anyone who can't do the work is no more required on the post, and for those found negligent in this regard, the penalty would not be confined to just transfer," he added.

Provincial adviser on Local Government Wasim Akhtar, Principal Secretary to governor Brig Akhtar Zamin, City Naib Nazim Tariq Hassan, Local Government Additional Chief Secretary Salim Khan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali, chief controller, Karachi Building Control Authority, Brig E A S Nasir, Additional Secretary Aftab Ahmed Khatri and other officials attended the meeting.

The governor directed the ACS to monitor the 'crash cleanliness campaign', and held that to improve sanitary conditions in the city was the basic responsibility of TMOs.

"The government, the people and the whole system rely upon you, and this is your responsibility to live up to their expectations," he told the TMOs. Mr Ibad gave one-month time to the TMOs to ensure cleaning of storm water drains in the city within one month. All other nullahs would be cleaned under the supervision of the city government and the DCO would present a report within a month in this regard, it was told.

TRAFFIC ISSUE: Sindh governor has expressed the hope that traffic problems in the city would be resolved within the next one-and-half year after construction of flyovers and underpasses here.