HYDERABAD, July 26: Hyderabad District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman here on Saturday declared emergency in three talukas of City, Latifabad and Qasimabad due to heavy rains and accumulation of rain water in the city.

Speaking at a news conference in his office, he lamented that the federal and provincial governments had not provided any funds to initiate a rescue operation.

He said that after the first rainfall, he had been asked by the chief secretary to send a demand for relief fund and he had submitted a request for Rs10 million 15 days back. He deplored that the relief fund were yet to arrive.

He said that several pumping machines had become redundant, the entire sewerage system had collapsed and he was even unable to drain out rain water from his house.

He demanded that the relief funds of Rs10 million should be released forthwith and Rs150 million should be immediately provided for the restoration of roads, damaged due to accumulation of rain water.

He stressed the need for a holding a meeting among the finance/planning and development secretaries, Hyderabad district government and other concerned quarters to chalk out a comprehensive plan to restore infrastructure of the city.

He said that before the local bodies elections, the former Sindh governor had announced a special grant of Rs500 million for the improvement of sewerage system and infrastructure of Hyderabad but even after the lapse of two years, Rs125 million had been released.

The district Nazim said that tenders had been invited but there was no money to initiate the development work.

He appealed to MNAs and MPAs of Sindh having houses in Hyderabad to contribute at least 25 per cent of their MNAs/MPAs funds for the development of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Nuzhat Pathan appealed to the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mill owners, philanthropists and NGOs to contribute for rehabilitation of the city.

Hyderabad City Nazim Haji Moinuddin Shaikh pointed out that the irrigation department had carried out pitching only on one side of the Phulelli Canal bank while the densely populated area of the other side was in grave danger if the canal overflowed.

He said that at least Rs50 million were required to restore the destroyed roads of the taluka.

MPA Zahid Bhurgari demanded that a package of at least Rs12 billion should be released to rehabilitate the city.

Latifabad Taluka Nazim Abdul Jabbar Khan demanded that the Hyderabad Development Authority should be placed under the taluka Nazims.