KARACHI: THE debate concerning the Karachi Port Trust’s water jet fountain refuses to settle. There is a barrage of comments in newspapers almost daily by concerned citizens regarding the necessity of constructing this ‘second largest fountain,’ not to mention the reactions voiced in private gatherings.
The arguments discussing the efficacy (or the lack thereof) and the superfluity of this enormous structure, built for a whopping amount of Rs225 million, have brought on reactions by the KPT which has given even more prominence to the irrelevancy of this fountain in a city where crucial development in key areas is crying out for attention.
Whereas it is understood that it is not the KPT’s job to undertake development work in the city, it should also be appreciated that if there is money to throw around on cosmetic monuments, it should be spent where most needed.
And if such a structure is required for the beautification of the city shouldn’t the citizens’ views be taken before the construction of the monument? Since no consensus was attempted and neither senior town planners were consulted, it is only prudent that the KPT now allows people to give their opinion –- after all not all gifts are welcomed by the recipients!
Besides, there are a number of logical reasons for the highly critical response of the public which the port authorities must take time out to consider instead of taking up cudgels in reaction.
The Karachi Port Trust is a semi-government, autonomous body, coming under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Any work undertaken by the Port Trust is mandated through its ‘Ports and Shipping Act’ to be specifically for port activities and port development.
Whereas the money generated by the KPT is not taxpayers’ money as it is earned through its berthing and other activities taking place within the port, it must however be invested back specifically for port development, as per the Act.
When the KPT offered to build the underpass it is assumed that they answered the President’s call for help to private enterprises in revamping Karachi when announcing the Rs29 billion Karachi package. Subsequently, when the underpass was inaugurated with fanfare, the KPT announced it to be a gift for Karachi and its people.
While no consensus was taken even for the construction of the underpass to include comments by representatives of the civil society, the project was at least aimed at improving road networking in the city, hence there was no objection.
Now with the second gift – the second largest water jet fountain – coming less than four months later, critics opine that it is perhaps to divert attention from the shortcomings of ‘the Pass’ which has not addressed the issue of traffic jams in the area which was once the Schon Circle.
Well, why else would a useless contraption be touted about so much in the media as ‘a landmark providing an identity to a nation’, not to mention the legitimacy given to it through the inauguration ceremony by President Musharraf.
How is it ‘identifying’ us as a developed nation when over 35 per cent of the ‘nationals’ lie below the poverty line? One reader put it quite aptly when he wrote in a letter to Dawn, stating, “this attempt at, self-glorification reminds one of the medieval times when kings used to indulge in ostentatious displays!”
The KPT is now stating that it plans to spend Rs4.5 billion on another project which includes deepening of the harbour’s draft among other things. But one would like to advise KPT officials, not to repeat the mistake by hastily taking up anymore projects to divert attention yet another time.
According to senior experts, the dredging project mentioned is not worth the money involved as simply dredging the harbour to increase depth will not allow large ships into the port since the mouth of the port is naturally narrow and if there is no ‘turnaround’ space available, the ships would still be unable to enter.
In fact, most of the projects stated in the Karachi Port Trust report are being critically viewed by retired officers who have years of experience in port operations.
The Karachi Port Trust has also announced a number of other beautification and recreational projects which it intends to make operational in about a year’s time.
These include a food street near the Native Jetty Bridge and its adjoining areas and a 100-storyed tower, which according to a handout will be a ‘commercial cum recreational centre’ integrating into Karachi’s skyline and its main feature is its commercial complex, residential estate and resorts, along with a viewing gallery offering a panoramic view of the skyline.
With Karachi’s environmentalists already lamenting the beach wall built along the coastline which hampers the view of the sea, how the new projects of purely commercial value would go down with the citizens still unclear.
The KPT’s jurisdiction extends from the breakwater tip to a three-mile radius towards the sea which includes part of the land along Sea View and Clifton beach where it is the Port’s duty to ensure that no environmental hazard is taking place.
With such grandiose plans in mind, has the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) approached the city architects and environment experts for consultations? And more importantly has an Environmental Impact Assessment been carried out for such extensive construction near the coastline where normally the beaches are left un-tampered so that their natural beauty remains unhindered and approachable for general public?
Since the fountain has come under such heavy criticism, the KPT should smarten up to the fact that the people of Karachi are a realist, hardworking entity not easily impressed by superficial grandeur.
They toil hard to earn their bread (meagre or large) and to keep a roof over their head. Theirs is a daily battle with broken roads, traffic jams, water shortage and electricity problems.
It would be better that future steps taken for the citizens or any surprise gifts, especially which fall under the ‘largest, tallest and biggest’ capacity, are first whetted by civil experts before being disbursed.
