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KARACHI, Nov 26: The Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, on Monday visited Banaras Chowk to review the implementation of directives he had issued four days back about the deteriorated sewerage condition and leaking water lines at the Chowk and in Orangi Town.
Besides officials of the City Government, the Nazim of SITE Town and other elected representatives were also present on the occasion.
The representatives told the Nazim that the repair of leaking lines, which had not been done for the last three months, had been completed in 36 hours.
The Nazim had paid a surprise visit to the area on Nov 22 when he was told that the pipeline from Banaras Chowk to Frontier Colony had been leaking for three months and the water board had taken no step to repair it despite repeated complaints. People also informed him about the out of order machines at the Banaras Pumping Station and absenting staff.
Showing his displeasure, the Nazim of Karachi had directed the chief engineer to raid the pump and ensure the presence of staff. He had directed that no leniency be shown to the absenting staff and disciplinary action be taken against them.
During that visit the Nazim had directed the KWSB authorities to hold a meeting with the Town Nazim and elected representatives and solve their problems on priority.
On the Monday visit, the Nazim was informed that all outlying works had been completed and uniforms provided to the KWSB’s mechanical and sewerage staff to ensure their presence. He was told that the KWSB would fine the staff not wearing the uniform.
REPLACEMENT: The Nazim of Karachi has said the water and sewerage lines in the city have almost collapsed and needed replacement.
He was speaking at an Iftar reception hosted by the Nazim and councillors of the Clifton Cantonment Board and of union councils 10 and 11 at the Eidgah Ground, Delhi Colony, on Sunday.
Naimatullah Khan said water and sewerage was the main problem of Karachi.
The system, 35 to 40 years old, has become almost obsolete and needed replacement as the water and sewerage pipes have been leaking increasingly.
The Nazim of Karachi stated that according to official studies the percentage of water wastage in the city was up to 35 whereas private studies suggested that up to 60 percent water got wasted in Karachi,
He said the federal government had a 100 MGD water three- year project for Karachi which would be executed at the cost of about Rs6 billion.
However, he maintained, the existing network would not be able to bear this additional supply and the pipes would burst.
Naimatullah emphasised that there was a need for replacing the water and sewerage system in Karachi.
“Our efforts are that this system be replaced at the earliest but this will take some time”, he said.
The Nazim of Karachi said that water supply to parts of the city had been resumed from the Hub Dam sources but owing to leakages in the system it had not proved to be of much benefit.
He said the City Government wanted to make the city green and beautiful.
Naimatullah said four roundabouts in Korangi and one in Clifton had been sponsored for beautification. He said it was desired that the main roundabouts in Karachi should be sponsored for the purpose.
It was estimated that there were about 1,100 undeveloped parks in the city and efforts had been initiated to see that they were sponsored for development.
The Nazim of Karachi said Pakistan Steel had taken up the task of planting trees and beautifying the road from Steel Town to the Airport.
He said the City Government would seek cooperation of the public towards the adoption of parks and plantation of trees along the roads.
Naimatullah Khan said that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Karachi would be made a city of information technology.
He said that for enhancing the income of the city government, he said put forward two suggestions — one pertaining to the imposition of one to two per cent port city tax on imports so that the people of Karachi could benefit from the port facility.
The other suggestion was 50 paisa per gallon surcharge on the sale in the city of three oil companies — Pakistan State Oil, Shell and Caltex — so that the proceed could be utilized towards the repairs and betterment of the roads in the city.
The area people told the City Nazim of the problems of their localities that included water shortage and grant of lease to various katchi abadis in the vicinity.
Naimatullah Khan said he was aware of all such problems and would do his best for the resolution of the genuine problems of the people.—APP
