KARACHI, July 12: The belated cleaning and de-silting of the city’s 41 storm-water drains is moving at a snail’s pace. Besides, the silt and other dirt taken out are being dumped on roadsides all along the drains. This is creating hindrances in the flow of traffic, besides causing unhygienic conditions in the localities. Although the monsoon season, which according to the Met office starts from July 15 to Aug 15, is hardly a day or two away, a number of drains are yet to be cleaned and de-silted, especially the covered ones situated in congested localities of the old city area. Their cleaning is necessary to ensure smooth flow of rainwater.
The cleaning and de-silting of storm-water drains in the city began under a crash programme on July 4 at an estimated cost of Rs5 million.
Sanitary workers of concerned town administrations have been facing difficulties in cleaning drains in Urdu Bazaar and Lighthouse areas. Both are covered and have a number of shops built on them in alleged connivance with officials of the land and estate departments.
During a visit to various city parts, one would see that a huge quantity of silt and other dirt has been dumped all along the drains. Such sights could be seen near the Ziauddin Hospital in North Nazimabad, Landi Kotal roundabout, Café Pyala, etc.
On being asked why the filthy material remained dumped for days together on roads and along the drains, some workers, who were busy in cleaning a drain, said that usually such filthy material was lifted from sites once it dried.
FAISAL TOWN: The Shah Faisal Town Municipal Officer, Dr Syed Ali Zafar Zaidi, on Tuesday exhorted officials to expedite cleaning work of all drains of the town and to complete it prior to the monsoon season.
He also directed the officials concerned to undertake the work of replacing faulty streetlights on war footing.
Announcing an anti-encroachment campaign in a couple of days, he urged encroachers to voluntarily remove all sorts of encroachments and building material from roads and footpaths.
GULSHAN-I-IQBAL: Caretaker of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town Fuzail Ahmed Bukhari on Tuesday visited the Shaheed-i-Millat, Bahadurabad and Sirajudaulah roads to inspect the drain-cleaning process. He also inspected ongoing works on the greenbelt on the Sehba Akhtar Road, adds PPI.
Cleaning of sewerage lines and drains on the Shaheed-i-Millat Road are under way. DTO Mubin Siddiqui, DTO Nafis Khan and XEN Sewerage accompanied him.
He directed officials to immediately repair the dilapidated sewerage lines on the Sirajudaulah Road and in Bahadurabad and dispose of sewer dirt placed on roads.
JAMSHED TOWN: Several tonnes of garbage have been lifted from drains in Soldier Bazaar, Azam Basti and Azam Town in the Jamshed Town under an action plan to cope with expected rains. Drain-cleaning in the town is under way.
The town’s caretaker, Masroor Ahmed Memon, along with TO Infrastructure Altaf Hussein Memon visited Azam Basti and Azam Town and inspected ongoing works of cleaning of drains and sewerage lines.
ORANGI TOWN: The Caretaker Orangi Town, Qamar Sheikh, also inspected drain cleaning works in Gulshan-i-Bihar, Baloch Goth, Mohajir Chowk, Aligarh Colony, Gabol Colony, Qatar Mora, Sharea-i-Qadhafi and other localities of his town.
He ordered the officials to clean dust from main roads and link roads and sprinkle lime on footpaths. He directed electric and horticulture departments to repair greenbelts and streetlights on main roads.
