KARACHI, Sept 17: The city government has chalked out a resettlement plan for the families to be evicted immediately from the encroached upon banks of Gujjar Nullah. Under the plan, each evicted family would be allotted a residential plot measuring 80 square yards.

“We don’t want to render anyone homeless but the extension and channelisation of the storm-water drain require removal of all unauthorised structures built along both its banks,” said City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal here on Monday while talking to a group of newsmen.

He advised all those living along the Gujjar Nullah banks to move to some other place voluntarily, and announced that each of the families would be given an alternative plot.

He also pledged every possible assistance and cooperation from the city government for their early rehabilitation.

Mr Kamal said that Gujjar Nullah was being extended with a view to saving people residing in the adjoining localities from any tragedy likely to be caused by rains or a sewage overflow. He said that the estimated cost of the nullah extension project was Rs1 billion which included construction of service roads along the two banks of the nullah.

Giving details of the project, he said that the original layout plan envisaged the nullah’s length to be maintained at 13.5 kilometres and a width of 14 to 37 feet at different junctions. Gujjar Nullah originates from Buffer Zone and drains out the rainwater into Lyari River after passing through Gulberg, North Nazimabad and Liaquatabad towns.

He said that encroachments along its either side had narrowed down the nullah’s width to 10 or at some places even five feet. He said that after Gujjar Nullah, the rain-water drains of Orangi and Manzoor Colony would also be broadened and extended.

Official sources said that the families evicted from Gujjar Nullah banks would be allotted plots in Taiser Town, a housing scheme launched by the Malir Development Authority.

The sources, however, expressed doubts over the plan’s success, apprehending that the city government lacked the required financial strength to rehabilitate such a large number of affected families. Regarding success of a similar plan for the affected families of the Lyari Expressway project, they argued it was a scheme funded by the federal government which did have sufficient financial resources.

“The (Gujjar Nullah) plan is in its initial stage and I think the city government would have to approach the federal government for financial assistance at a later stage,” said an official.

Meanwhile, the city nazim has directed all TMOs and Revenue officials to conduct a realistic survey of the Gujjar Nullah with a view to ensuring that a minimum number of families is affected and the process of eviction is completed within the stipulated time.