KARACHI, Dec 8: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the city government is considering a plan to carry out aerial spray to eliminate the virus spreading diseases while under a two-phase campaign launched on Thursday, pouring of insecticides in drains has been started.

He was addressing a press conference on Thursday at the city government secretariat where DCO Fazlur Rehman, EDO Health Dr Khalid Shaikh and DO Malaria Control Hamad Siddiqui were also present.

Mr Kamal said that the proposal about the four-hour aerial spray for six days was being examined and for the purpose, a spray aircraft might be hired from the plant protection department on rental basis. The aircraft has the capacity to spray 400 litres of insecticide/ pesticide per hour.

The nazim further stated that a gallop tender advertisement had been placed in newspapers for the purchase of 100 spray machines for carry out the work on a permanent basis. Hopefully, the city government would get the machines in 15 days and distribute them among towns accordingly, he added.

He pointed out that the anti-malaria section of the city government’s health department had been carrying out the spray since November 1 in all 18 towns to eliminate mosquitoes, and as soon as reports about the Congo- and Dengue-like virus came in, the spray had been resumed from November 30.

He told journalists that in this regard, three vehicles had been provided daily to each town to carry out the spray in drains and nullahs. The drive, he added, continued till December 5.

Mr Kamal said that a programme had been chalked out and was being implemented forthwith for spray of anti-germs powder in drains, nullahs, etc. Two towns were being covered every day and to start with, the powder had been spread in Lyari and SITE towns on Thursday.

He said that 10 bags of 25-kg chemical each were being sprayed in a day in a town.

Turning to development work, the city nazim said that the city government was launching a crash programme, with different projects costing Rs50 million to Rs230 million, for carpeting and repair of roads and filling of ditches.

The problems being faced by Karachiites could not be solved on permanent basis without round the clock efforts, organized planning, decision-making powers and professional skills. In this regard, he particularly made mention of traffic problem which, he noted, was getting complicated day by day.

He said the city government had started moving on a fast track and was launching short- and long-term programmes under a two-pronged policy.

Mr Kamal said that the long-term programmes included mass transit, flyovers, signal-free roads, under-passes, widening of roads, etc., on which work was under way.

He said that development activities on a large scale had been started in Karachi and very soon, Karachiites would feel a significant and conspicuous change.

The city government has prepared a plan for carpeting and repair of roads at a cost of Rs50 million in the first phase whereas more funds will be provided if and when needed.

Under this development programme, the city government will carry out repair of damaged roads, roundabouts and streets. All town nazims will identify the roads requiring repair. The city nazim said that the contracts in this regard would be awarded to eight construction companies.

In this regard, people could also informed the city government about their problems by dialling the helpline number ‘134’ or by approaching the works and services department, said the city nazim.

Mr Kamal said he had issued the directive that people’s complaints not only be redressed immediately, but a complainant also be informed of the action taken on his complaint.

He said that with the implementation of this plan, two objectives would be attained; damaged roads and roundabouts would be repaired to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, and the city would gain more beauty and hygienic environment.—APP/ PPI