KARACHI: The Sindh government is planning to construct a small dam or a storm-water drain right from the upper side of Northern Bypass to give way to the rainwater falling from Khirthar mountain range.

A similar storm drain is also required in Hyderabad to save it from flash floods.

This was disclosed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah when he was speaking to new British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis who called on him here on Thursday at CM House.

Storm drain is also required in Hyderabad to save it from flash floods

During their meeting the chief minister and the visiting diplomat discussed bilateral relations, trade and commerce, energy and also exchanged views on the recent heavy downpour in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The chief minister said that the natural waterways in both Karachi and Hyderabad had been encroached upon; therefore rainwater could not pass through storm-water drains.

He said that on the upper side of Northern Bypass there was a natural drain called Lat Nai.

Similarly there was another natural drain known as Mokhi Dhoro located on the back side of Al-Asif Square up to Lyari and was finally terminating in Lyari River.

He said that there was another drain from lower side of the Superhighway covering Dumba Goth, Malir Cantt and terminating somewhere at Natha Khan.

The chief minister said that the Northern Bypass, New Sabzi Mandi, various societies and townships had emerged on the main natural nai or dhoros (storm-water drains), therefore water had no way to flow down to the sea. “This is why all these localities are flooded when heavy rains are received in the city and its adjoining areas,” he said and added that this was also the case with Saadi Town.

“Due to blockages in natural drains we have started dewatering the city with diesel pumps and with other machinery,” he said and added that his government was planning to construct two storm-water drains from Khirthar mountain range. One would cover the upper side of the Motorway covering Northern Bypass area, New Sabzi Mandi and back side of Al-Asif Square which would terminate in Lyari River.

The other drain would cover lower side of Motorway covering the areas of Dumba Goth, Safoora, Malir Cantt and all nearby areas and would terminate at Natha Khan storm-water drain.

The chief minister said: “I would conduct a study and consult the relevant experts to explore the alignment of proposed drain with natural gravity so that rainwater of upper Motorway and lower Motorway areas could be disposed of smoothly,” he said and added that a small dam might be constructed in the lap of Khirthar mountains somewhere at Gadap village or Mahar Jabal [Mahar mountain located on the upper side of the Gadap village].

Mr Shah also said that he visited Hyderabad and found that like Karachi, all natural waterways were also under encroachment there.

“I am planning to construct a new drain which can cater to the entire city with vast catchment through culverts, connecting drain,” he said and added that a study would be conducted shortly, otherwise in near future, Karachi and Hyderabad would have a great threat of flash floods.

Thar coal electricity

The chief minister also told the visiting envoy that the Thar Coal power plant had started producing 660 megawatts of electricity on commercial basis.

“This commercial production started on July 17, 2019 and now we are working for expansion of coal mine in Block-II and power generation,” he said and added that a British company, Oracle, was also working in Block-I which would also install a power plant.

He invited the British diplomat to visit the Thar desert, which has turned lush green after receiving recent rains, and also suggested him to visit Sukkur Barrage constructed by the British some 100 years ago and also visit Moenjodaro.

The British deputy high commissioner thanked the chief minister for his hospitality and said that he would work for investment in energy and water sector in Sindh.

The chief minister presented him a memento, ajrak and Sindhi cap.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2019