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HYDERABAD, March 28: The Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF) has opposed construction of four flyovers in the city, saying there is no need of them it for another 10 years.
The flyovers are to be erected at Shahbaz chowk, Latif chowk, Guddu chowk and Qasim chowk.
The SDF Convener Abrar Qazi, speaking during news conference at press club on Thursday said construction of flyovers was in contradiction to traffic engineering rules, waste of money and a classic case of misplaced priorities.
He said there was no traffic density to warrant any flyovers at these places and added that even if traffic signals were not working, traffic jams like Karachi were never witnessed.
He said that according to his calculation no traffic congestion will be witnessed in next 10 years keeping in view traffic growth and spending Rs110 crore was totally unnecessary.
Rules of traffic engineering were also being violated because heavy traffic was allowed to pass through straight roads and light traffic on flyover, he said.
The district government had not set priorities as instead of giving preference to disposal of sewerage it was keen on constructing flyovers, he said adding some nine million gallons of untreated sewerage water was being pumped daily into Phulelli canal.
Similarly, sewerage water of Qasimabad was being pumped into Indus River and consumed by people residing downstream, he said and added: ‘The health of people of lower Sindh is being threatened by Hepatitis and other water borne diseases.”
He said Phulelli was the only source of drinking water for people of Tando Muhammad Khan, Golarchi and Badin, while treatment plant should have had the preference over flyovers.
He said the MQM had the control of city for 22 years but the city was gradually turning into a slum. The SDF and people of Hyderabad will not sit quiet and watch their beautiful city being destroyed Abrar Qazi said and demanded immediate halt of work on above flyovers.
He demanded of the incoming PPP government in Sindh not to include the MQM in the government at any cost and that the Hyderabad district should be reverted back to its original form.
‘No development without women’s participation’
Collective efforts are required to resolve problems of women as without restoring their rights there appear few chances of any tangible development taking place in the country, said leaders of various parties, social welfare organisations and writers.
They were speaking at function jointly organised by Soorath Welfare Organisation, the SPO and HANDS at local press club on Thursday to mark “International Women Day” with the theme “Women Development and Society.” PPP MPA Farheen Mughal, Raheela Rahim of HANDS and Irfana Mallah and others spoke on the occasion.
