Karachi Mayor irked by non-lifting of offal in Central, West districts

Published August 4, 2020
A heap of offal and other waste seen in Liaquatabad on Monday.—White Star
A heap of offal and other waste seen in Liaquatabad on Monday.—White Star

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Monday visited different areas in the city to review work to lift offal of sacrificial animals on Eidul Azha.

He said that the offal-removal process was better in districts Korangi and East but the situation was not that satisfactory in districts Central and West.

The mayor said different organisations had also helped in lifting of offal from streets in districts Central and West, while elected representatives of local government were also in the field along with the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB). District Municipal Corporations Korangi and East chairmen Nayyer Raza and Moeed Anwer were also present with the mayor during his visit.

Speaking to the media at Shah Faisal Colony, Mayor Akhtar said that offal-lifting process was far better in district Korangi but the operation suffered a delay owing to shortage of machinery including dumpers and loaders.

Says SSWMB was made responsible for offal lifting but it did not comply with LG minister’s directives

He said that Pakistan Army and National Disaster Management Authority had been summoned for cleanliness of drains in Karachi, adding that the local government would have done this job had it been empowered.

“The NDMA would clean three big drains of Karachi for which the work began today (Monday),” he added.

‘Incompetence of provincial govt’

The mayor said that earlier the people had to face difficulties during rains. Now they were facing miseries on Eidul Azha due to incompetence of the provincial government.

He said that it was decided in a meeting chaired by Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah that SSWMB would lift offal of sacrificial animals.

He added that Karachiites were facing hardships due to poor health sector, lack of public transport system and other issues, urging that all stakeholders come on the same page for redress of these problems.

“The issue of garbage in the city would not be resolved until a proper system is devised for its disposal at landfill sites,” he added.

The mayor also visited districts Central and West on the second day of Eid to review lifting of sacrificial animals’ offal.

DMC Central and West chairmen Rehan Hashmi and Izhar Ahmed and others also accompanied him.

Criticises SSWMB

The mayor said that the SSWMB didn’t comply with directives of the LG minister, adding that the board should have been closed if it does not follow the minister’s directives.

“Garbage was not lifted ahead of Eidul Azha. The SSWMB didn’t give district Central required machinery. Institutions don’t do their work and eventually governments are blamed,” said the mayor.

He said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was not seen on ground during Eid days and the bureaucrats were celebrating Eid at home.

Mr Akhtar said that the situation was worst at district West as he was informed by the DMC chairman that the animals’ offal were still lying on the streets of Orangi Town but the SSWMB was not cooperating with the district administration and didn’t provide it machinery.

The mayor said that if offal were not lifted ahead of next monsoon spell as forecasted by the Meteorological department, the situation may become worse and the people would suffer.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2020

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