HYDERABAD, Jan 31: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has directed Wasa to ensure uninterrupted water supply and disposal of sewage in the city’s three talukas during Muharram.

Presiding over a meeting held here on Monday, he asked the Wasa managing director to prepare a foolproof contingency plan and put all machinery and manpower in the field so that participants of mourning processions did not face any difficulty.

He declared emergency in Wasa and cancelled leaves of employees to meet the situation during Muharram.

The nazim directed the Wasa management to depute separate teams for each drain and pumping station to avoid overflow of sewage.

He directed to make a well constructed to control sub- surface water level at Qadamgah Maula Ali functional and keep pumping machines in working condition. He made it clear that in case of failure, officers concerned would be taken to task.

Mr Jamil also formed a committee, comprising one officer each from Wasa and the TMA concerned, to identify troubled spots and suggest ways to meet the situation.

He said the district government in collaboration with the City TMA was organizing a camp with officers of public utility departments, health, scouts and other managements at Qadamgah Maula Ali to monitor the water supply and drainage system and attend complaints of people.

About power supply during Muharram, the nazim asked Hesco officers to ensure there was no electricity shutdown and provide standby generators and technical teams at routes of mourning processions. He asked the officers to ensure dual power supply system by interlinking existing feeders to have an alternative source of energy in case of emergency. He also asked them to remove open electricity wires from routes of processions to avoid any incident.

Briefing the meeting, Garikhata Hesco executive engineer Akbar Durani said arrangements to ensure regular electricity supply had been made and staff concerned would be made available round-the-clock to meet any emergency.

The nazim directed the PTCL management not to dig any road during working hours.

He also asked TMAs to remove hindrances and debris, especially from routes of mourning processions, and keep their staff alert.

MPA Syed Arshad Shah, MPA Aslam Pervez, district development committee members Farooq Qureshi and Mubin Shaikh, Wasa managing director Kafeel Ahmad, building control director Masood Jumani, town planning director Arif Memon and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr Jamil said the district government was working to upgrade the Hyderabad zoo.

He said this while being briefed by consultants of the private sector about their capability to design and implement a zoo project on Monday.

He said the district government intended to provide better entertainment facilities in Hyderabad and as such, the zoo was being improved with the partnership of public and private sectors.

The nazim said the project would not only provide recreational facilities to people but would also be a source of income for the Qasimabad TMA.

He said that under the plan, the number of animal species would be increased and natural environment would be provided to them.