KARACHI, Aug 11: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that a major operation to remove encroachments from seven storm-water drains in the metropolis will be conducted after monsoon.
Briefing journalists at his office on Saturday, the nazim said he had forewarned the citizens two months back about the possible flood-like situation due to the encroachments that made the de-silting of drains impossible.
He said that 178mm rainfall had been recorded in the city and according to forecasts there would be more rain in years to come. However, he insisted that the civic life did not come to standstill despite heavy rain as the city government officials and staff were working round-the-clock. He said that rescue teams of the city government had timely rescued people stranded in their houses along Gujjar Nullah.
Underlining the need for a joint decision, he sought citizens’ cooperation to remove encroachments and chalk out a permanent solution in this regard.
Mr Kamal said the requisite space along both banks of the storm-water drains would be maintained and the city government would remove all unauthorised structures for this purpose. He said the cleaning of drains would only be possible once the encroachments were removed.
He said the city government would launch a project with the financial assistance of the federal government to lay an integrated network of storm-water drainage system in the metropolis.
