KARACHI: Rs5 million plan ready to clean city drains
KARACHI, July 2: A Rs5 million crash programme has been chalked out by the authorities for cleaning of storm-water drains in the city before the start of monsoon. According to the meteorological department, monsoon rains system would begin here in the next couple of days. Officials claimed that under the crash plan, 41 major drains would be cleaned in the city.
In the first phase, they said immediate cleaning of six major drains had been undertaken, and work is expected to the completed in a couple of days. These drains include nullahs in Korangi, Chakora, Kalri and Pitcher and Nehre Khayyam. The plan would be monitored by the Sindh governor.
During the cleaning of open nullahs, heavy machinery would be used while alternative arrangements would be made for cleaning of covered nullahs.
Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Local Government Wasim Akhtar, accompanied by the DCO Fazlur Rehman, EDO Works Sarfraz Shah and other senior officials inspected various storm-water drains on Saturday.
Later talking to newsmen, DCO Karachi said consultants have been appointed for the drain cleaning work so that the problem is resolved besides planning for the future.
He informed that a special section had been set up in the works and services department which would carry out cleaning of drains with the help of heavy machinery.
He said that the CDGK had planned to take up desilting and cleaning of chocked points/ portions of storm-water drains, nullahs on an emergency basis to check accumulation of rain water on roads.
Waseem Akhtar said that the ongoing desilting work and other lingering projects, specially roads, would be completed soon for smooth flow of traffic in Karachi.
He said on the directives of Sindh Governor, work has been started on the plan to deal with rain emergency whereby choked drains are being cleared of blockades.
“We have decided to provide relief to the people and will not lay foundations of projects only”, he said in reply to a question.
“We will complete those projects whose stones had been laid by the former City Nazim.
He also directed that prompt removal of debris be ensured so that people do not suffer. Moreover, spray work be also carried out.
He directed that the cleaning work be undertaken on emergent basis because these ‘nallahs’ have not been cleaned for long.
He also appealed to the people not to dispose of garbage in the storm-water drains as this obstructs the sewerage system.
He lamented that the City District Government did not bother to clean the drains.
Waseem Akhtar said he would request the Prime Minister to order re-audit of the CDGK affairs as less than 20 per cent accounts for the year 2001-02 had been audited.
To a question about corruption, the advisor said whosoever would be involved in corruption, would be held accountable.
To a question, Mr Fazalur Rehman said that drains used to be cleaned earlier as well, but this time the programme designed was different and unique.
He asked the journalists to themselves visit the drains after a fortnight.
He also said that the Sindh governor had announced a Rs60 million special package for the Lyari Town under which two drains in the town would also be cleaned.
The Caretaker further said that work has not been stopped on any of the ongoing development schemes and rather it is continuing with a speed.
When asked to comment on reports that work on ongoing schemes has been stoped, Fazlur Rehman explained that work is in progress on schemes worth billions of rupees.
