KARACHI: The city administrator on Wednesday said that arrangements should be made for upcoming monsoon rains, including devising a strategy for storm-water drainage.

Addressing a meeting on rain emergency, city Administrator Laeeq Ahmed directed all engineers concerned of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to conduct thorough survey of the sites and tail-end areas.

“Pumps should remain available all the time and arrangements should be made in view of the forecast of heavy rains this year,” he further ordered.

The administrator said that at present the KMC had 17 pumps for drainage and with the purchase of four more heavy duty pumps, drainage work could be done faster.

He directed the municipal services, works and other departments to ensure coordination with each other and make joint strategy regarding rain emergencies. The departments should exchange a complete list of officers and staff deployed at all departments to ensure availability of officers and staffers around the clock, he added.

He said rainwater drainage especially in underpasses should be ensured in view of rain forecast.

“We have to keep maximum manpower and mechanical resources active while alternative arrangements should be made as required. There should be better lighting arrangements in the underpasses,” he added.

Mr Ahmed said the staff deployed in the city would be supervised by the engineers and XENs of the works department during rains. He said that a permanent supply of fuel will be ensured for the vehicles carrying dewatering pumps.

He said that priority should be given to the areas where complaints of accumulation of rainwater had been received in the past. The administrator said that the provincial government would also be approached for more resources, if needed.

“Our aim should be to provide the best possible facilities to citizens for which the KMC will work closely with other institutions of the city,” he concluded.

Anti-encroachment drive reviewed

Meanwhile, Commissioner Navid Shaikh chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review the progress of anti-encroachment operation being carried out at Orangi Nullah with regard to the project of remodelling of storm-water drains.

The SITE association was also invited to share their concerns so that they could be taken on board for smooth operations.

The commissioner directed deputy commissioners concerned, officials of the KMC and other officials and departments concerned to expedite the work on the remodelling of storm-water drains at Mehmoodabad Nullah, Gujjar Nullah and Orangi Nullah with coordinated efforts and ensure completion of work as soon as possible.

The commissioner directed the officials to ensure implementation of hydrological model designed by an NED experts’ team so there were no obstruction in the drains.

The meeting participants were also informed that all three storm-water drains would be used only for draining storm water and they would not be used for sewerage purpose and sewerage lines would be placed under the roads and footpaths on these nullahs.

The meeting also heard the grievances of representatives of SITE Association and a committee was formed headed by Deputy Commissioner Keamari Mukhtar Abro with Shehzad Abbassi MD SITE and senior director of KMC Mazhar Khan and representative of SITE Association as members of the committee to visit Orangi Nullah.

The committee was directed to submit its report within two days.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2021