HYDERABAD: A “leaked” document pertaining to 42 housing schemes allowed to be executed within the flood zone of Hyderabad has created doubts about an even-handed action supposed to be taken to protect lives and properties of all allottees from possible losses in the face of floods.

The document is a Feb 14 communication addressed to Hyderabad Commissioner Nadeemur Rehman Memon by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida) managing director. The letter had enlisted 42 housing schemes along the main dyke and loop bunds within Sida’s limits and described them as “illegal”.

They included an ongoing scheme (at No. 33) which is being executed on an 18-acre piece of land along the main left bank dyke of Indus by a Karachi-based construction firm.

Ironically, Sida and the commissioner focused on only seven of these schemes.

Sida recommended cancellation of 42 projects but only seven shelved

The Feb 14 letter under subject “Illegal construction along Jamshoro, Gidumal Front and loop bunds by launching of residential schemes in flood zone” refers to Feb 9, 2022 official correspondence by the executive engineer of Phulelli canal division, Badin.

The Sida MD informed the commissioner about the executive engineer’s report that “flood protective bunds especially in the city limits of Hyderabad under jurisdiction of Phulelli division could not be ignored”. It was stated that the Jamshoro and Gidumal Front as well as loop bunds were only defence line to protect Hyderabad city and its surrounding areas from any untoward heavy, medium or low floods.

“These bunds were constructed in form of front and loop bunds on technical parameters. The land lying between these bunds is always used to strengthen bunds as per guidelines defined in bund manual,” the Sida MD said.

Sida’s Feb 14 letter also quoted the executive engineer as reporting that over the last few years, it had seriously been observed that various housing schemes had been or were being launched by different builders along these protective bunds within the flood zone. Various notices issued by the (Badin) division to stop work on these site but slowly and gradually “land-grabber mafia” continued its activities.

The Sida MD enlisted some of the housing schemes allowed to be executed within the flood zone without obtaining any NOC from the irrigation department. “By doing this, the builder mafia is playing with precious lives, properties & government installations,” he stated, and declared all these schemes illegal. “Due to these illegal constructions within flood zone, lives and properties of residents of these schemes are at high risk,” he cautioned.

The Sida MD requested the commissioner to make personal efforts and approach the department concerned to stop it from granting approval for such schemes and also to review approvals for the enlisted schemes. He also urged the commissioner to direct the revenue department to stop issuing registration documents (ownership certificates) for such schemes.

Action against 35 schemes not discussed

Following issuance of the Feb 14 letter, both Sida and then commissioner discussed the matter but focused only on seven schemes. However, they seemed to have turned a blind eye towards the 35 other schemes. NOCs for the seven schemes were eventually cancelled by the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA).

HDA director general Mohammad Sohail said: “Let commissioner issue directives for remaining schemes and then we will withdraw their NOCs as well”. He said the commissioner had not yet issued any such directive for the remaining schemes.

When confronted with his Feb 14 letter, the Sida MD told Dawn: “My Feb 14 letter is still in place. We initially thought we should take up seven schemes first and see to others later. Sida has not withdrawn the Feb 14 letter”.

In March, the Sida MD had defined the flood zone as the land between the two main dykes of the river, and not beyond them. But his Feb 14 letter had clearly described the flood zone as the land falling between the main dykes as well as the loop bunds. He had also observed that the “land lying between these bunds is always used to strengthen bunds as per guidelines defined in bund manual”.

Commissioner Nadeemur Rehman Memon left for US a few days back. Before leaving abroad, he had told Dawn that he would have to hold a meeting with Sida (officials) on the remaining schemes mentioned in the Feb 14 letter. He said he would ask the Hyderabad deputy commissioner to look into this matter and see how at least new construction activity could be stopped to avoid further damage to the flood zone.

At the April 7 meeting chaired by the commissioner, the DC had asked HDA officer Shahid Pervez to write to Sida seeking confirmation that whether the schemes approved by the HDA along the “main Indus river dyke” or loop bunds were safe or not as per Sida’s viewpoint.

A copy of the Feb 14 letter was marked for the DC and seemed to have already been responded to.

However, when contacted, the DC told Dawn that he had not received the Feb 14 letter as yet. He has already urged the commissioner to ensure a ‘blanket ban’ on the approval of housing schemes in the flood zone. The DC said that the commissioner while leaving for US did not ask him to hold any meeting regarding the 42 schemes.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022