KARACHI, July 17: A garbage-filled storm-water drain passing through a congested area in Keamari Town will play havoc with the lives of people if immediate steps are not taken for its cleaning.

Residents of Mohammadi Colony situated near Wazir Mansion along the Mauripur Road in Keamari Town fear that if early steps are not taken to clean the drain, several localities in the surroundings of Mauripur Road and Mirza Adam Khan Road will submerge in case of any summer rainfall.

A schoolteacher and resident of the area, Samiul Haq, said the drain was cleaned last by the last city government, but no step had yet been taken the current year.

He said the Kalari nallah, one of the major storm-water drains, passed through densely populated areas Lyari Town and terminated at the Arabian Sea near the Karachi Fish Harbour in Keamari Town.

A survey showed that the drain near the Mohammadi colony had almost been clogged, as no cleaning work was carried out. While the drain network passing through the Lyari Town was also filled with garbage.

Rainfall in Karachi averages seven to eight inches per year. Severe flooding during monsoon always causes damage to property and disruption of utility services, besides creating problems for citizens.

It is learnt that depositing of silt had further raised the drain’s bed. In case of any rainfall, the residents fear that the whole area would suffer.

They said due to neglect, piles of garbage had blocked the inlets and the outlets. Thus, a slightest amount of rainfall would play havoc with the locality.

Not only Lyari and Keamari Towns, but even parts of Saddar would face worse conditions during the monsoon rainfall disturbing civil life and utility services.

Though the administration has prepared an emergency plan to meet the situation, and work on some storm-water drains have been taken in hand, but the situation demands more.

It calls for a major cleaning operation of all major drains of the city, a resident remarked.

According to him, it is the responsibility of all civic agencies to coordinate their efforts at the city level and prepare a joint operation plan to meet any emergency situation.

KWSB: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board will take necessary measures for disposing of rainwater and maintaining the drainage system in addition to performing its regular tasks, adds APP.