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KARACHI, Aug 22: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the drainage system in the old city areas, including Kharadar, Mithadar, cloth market, Machhi Miani Road, M. A. Jinnah Road and the adjoining localities, is a 50-year-old problem as the network is totally blocked.
“The encroachments on the storm-water drains across these areas had made it impossible to clean the network properly as a result of which water and sewage accumulate even with a little rainfall,” the nazim argued, and held out the assurance that the chronic problem would be solved for ever through short- and long-term plans to be executed by the incumbent city government.
During his visit to the old city areas on Wednesday, Mr Kamal heard people’s complaints and assured them that the problems would be resolved soon as the city government was fully aware of these issues.
The nazim was accompanied by Water Board AVC Imamuddin Shahzad, MPA Shakir Ali, Saddar Town Nazim Mohammed Dilawar and senior officers. They also inspected storm-water drains of Moosa Lane, Pichard Road and Machhar Colony.
Mr Kamal told the people that their problems were in his knowledge and he was visiting the area along with the engineers and officials concerned to have a full comprehension of the same and get them resolved.
He said that in order to provide immediate relief, work had been started to flush out accumulated water into temporary drains. He said a comprehensive survey had been ordered for a permanent solution. After the survey was completed, he said, pre-cast drains would be laid to ensure replacement of the system in a minimum possible time.
On the occasion, Mr Kamal directed the engineers concerned to a temporary drain be cut down from Tower and linked with the newly-laid drain of Chundrigar Road for instant relief.
The city nazim also issued directives for immediate digging and cleaning of the old drainage system along M. A. Jinnah Road, clearing of the blocked drainage system at Tower and connecting the system with the Moosa Lane and Pichard Road drains.
Gujjar Nullah vulnerable
Liaquatabad Town Nazim Osama Qadri has advised residents of the locality along Gujjar Nullah to shift to some safe place as water level in the storm-water drain was rising.
The nazim visited the locality and the adjoining areas, include Sanitary Market (Gulbahar), Lasbela Bridge, Nazimabad-Liaquatabad-Gharibabad underpass and the areas around Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
He directed sanitation staff to drain out rainwater from roads to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the town.
‘Pumping machines distributed’
Gadap Town Nazim Ghulam Murtaza Baloch on Wednesday visited flooding-hit areas of the town and directed the officials concerned to get the rainwater flushed out from all thoroughfares, especially those around mosques. He said water pumping machines had already been distributed amongst UCs for the purpose.
He advised residents of the town to register their complaints at emergency control room on phone numbers 4561228 and 4561287, set up under the supervision of TO Infrastructure Nafees Shaikh.
Korangi on alert
Korangi Town Nazim Mohammad Arif Khan, along with Town Nazim Mohammad Asghar Qureshi and TMO Dr Mukhtar A. Palijo, on Wednesday visited low-laying areas of the town and inspected draining out of rainwater.
The nazim asked all town officers and staff to remain on alert in wake of the forecast for more rains on Thursday.
He inspected cleaning of different sections of a drain with heavy machinery.
Rain emergency in Landhi
Landhi Town Nazim Asif Hasnain, who has already declared rain emergency in the town, has cancelled leaves of all the concerned staff.
He said UC nazims, naib nazims, councillors and UC secretary would be available to people in their offices, which would remain opened round the clock. He asked citizens to lodge their complaints on telephone number5035729.
Flooded thoroughfares
Jamshed Town Nazim Javed Ahmed, along with TMO Masroor Memon and TO Infrastructure Abid Arain visited the flooded roads including different sections of Sharea Faisal, Lal Kothi, Tipu Sultan Road, Muslimabad, PECHS, Shaheed-i-Millat Road, Manzoor Colony, Mehmoodabad and Shahra-i-Quaideen.—Agencies
