KARACHI, Oct 25: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Local Government Waseem Akhtar has warned all town municipal officers (TMOs) to ensure cleanliness throughout the city within 15 days or face disciplinary action.

Addressing an emergency meeting of the TMOs after reviewing sanitary condition in the city, the adviser asked them to ensure that people of their respective areas knew about the address and contact numbers of the concerned town administration's office so that they could approach the officials to get their problems solved.

He also directed the TMOs to set up complaint centres at their offices for the timely redressal of the problems.

The adviser asked the managing director of the KWSB to take steps for an improvement in the water supply and sewerage system and plugging of leakages. In this regard, he particularly referred to the conditions in Orangi and Baldia towns.

Mr Akhtar further directed them to take measures for immediate closure of all illegal hydrants.

He told the officers that during the cleanliness campaign, he would visit different areas and if he noticed unsatisfactory performance by any of the TMOs, he would take appropriate action.

He said that lifting and disposal of garbage was certainly the responsibility of town and UC nazims, but it was the responsibility of the TMOs to create awareness among the people in order to prevent them from disposing of their garbage at places other than the specified spots.

He took serious notice of leaving the garbage and mud dumped along side the drains after cleaning them, and stressed that this practice must be done away with.

He issued special instructions for removal of garbage and repair of roads and footpaths in Jamshed Town, Lyari Town and Mahmoodabad, saying that the work was responsibility of the concerned TMO.

The meeting was also attended by DCO Mir Hussain Ali, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Mohammad Saleem Khan, Water Board MD Brig Iftekhar, additional secretary of local government, DO Solid Waste Management and other concerned officials. - APP