KARACHI: The Karachi Coordination Committee, constituted to monitor development works of the city, on Friday reviewed progress of various uplift initiatives, including cleaning of nullahs, lifting of garbage, water supply and construction of some important roads.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and his team including Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Planning and Development Board Chairman M. Waseem, KMC Administrator Iftikhar Shahalwani, the secretaries of LG and transport, the chiefs of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and NED University’s Prof Dr Adnan, while the federal government was represented by Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar.

Corps Commander of Karachi Lt Gen Humayyun Aziz, Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed and GOC of Karachi Maj Gen Aqeel were also present.

Remodelling of nullahs, other projects discussed; Sindh govt plans remodelling of Malir Expressway, ICI Bridge

The chief minister told the meeting that he had assigned the task of survey and preparation of remodelling design of three nullahs — Mahmoodabad, Gujjar and Orangi nullahs — to the NED University which had submitted a design and remodelling plan of Mahmoodabad nullah. The designing and survey of the remaining two nullahs would be completed by Jan 15.

CM Shah said that remodelling of Mahmoodabad nullah would affect 319 structures constructed along the embankments of the drain.

He said that Mahmoodabad nullah was six-metre deep at Korangi but the depth kept reducing as it ran down and finally turned to one metre at Defence up to its end. “This causes a serious problem to discharge of smooth flow of water,” Mr Shah said. “In the proposed remodelling design this defect has been pointed out to remove it.”

Asad Umar said that work on Mahmoodabad nullah should be started at the earliest so that it could be completed as soon as possible.

He said that the federal government had authorised the National Disaster Management Authority to utilise Rs7 billion for cleaning of various nullahs and related assignments.

Water projects

The meeting was told that the federal government had taken up the task of completing the K-IV water project and, therefore, relevant documents were handed over to the Centre.

The federal government had assigned the task to the Water and Power Development Authority, Mr Umar said, vowing to complete the project on a priority basis.

The chief minister said that his government had launched a 30 MGD scheme to provide water to district South.

He said that the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) was reluctant to give passage for the scheme and asked federal minister Umar to direct the PQA to clear the way for the scheme so that it could be completed.

Mr Umar assured the chief minister that the issue would be resolved.

Solid waste management

The chief minister said that necessary amendments were being made to the laws related to the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) for devolving it to city level.

He said that Karachi would have a separate solid waste management board to carry out cleaning works.

The local government minister told the meeting that cleanliness works would include sweeping of roads, garbage collection from housing to garbage transfer station and then to landfill sites.

The meeting was told that contracts for cleanliness works in Central and Korangi districts were being auctioned. By the end of February, the qualified private firms would be awarded the contracts.

The chief minister told the meeting that he was meanwhile launching a special drive to make the city neat and clean.

Roads

CM Shah said that the Sindh government was going to launch the mega projects of Malir Expressway and ICI Bridge remodeling on a public-private partnership mode.

He said that the two schemes would reshape the flow of traffic in the city, adding that he had also released special funds to construct dilapidated roads from Gulbai to Y-junction and the main and internal roads of the SITE area.

The meeting decided to speed up cleanliness work of the nullahs.

In order to help the Sindh government resolve civic issues of Karachi, the federal government has planned 100 projects under the Rs1.1 trillion Karachi Transformation Plan.

The plan aims to find a permanent solution to issues such as solid waste management, water shortage, cleaning of nullahs, sewerage and transport.

However, it was not clear what else was discussed about those projects in Friday’s meeting attended by top federal and provincial officials.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2020