KARACHI, July 6: The City Government has moved swiftly to ensure implementation of preventive measures taken to minimise rain-related problems in view of the coming monsoon.

District Coordination Officer Shafiq-ur-Rehman Paracha in this connection would be visiting all towns on Sunday to hold meetings with all town officers to find the status of implementation of the decisions taken by the city government in its last meeting which directed all town officers to take all required measures to clear rain drains, repair potholed and damaged roads, remove encroachments and garbage dumps beneath the flyovers and bridges.

Taking a serious notice of the complaints of supply of contaminated water, the city government had directed the KWSB chief engineer to ensure that such occurrences should not be repeated. The EDO Health was also asked to launch an awareness campaign for educating people in methods for treating water and to arrange distribution of prophylactic/ preventive medicine for containing epidemics.

These instructions were issued by the City government after a meeting held to discuss preparedness for the coming monsoon rains and decisions were taken to meet any emergency.

The meeting after a thorough discussion of all related issues to the rains, including warning to residents of low-lying areas and collapse of vulnerable structures, safe drinking water supply, rusty electricity conductors, power supply to the pumping station, rescue teams and relief operation for the affecters, took decisions and assigned responsibility to Town Nazims and concerned EDOs for their implementation before hand.

In the meeting attention was drawn towards poor condition of roads everywhere wit potholes where rainwater could further multiply miseries of the people as the drains were stuffed with garbage and the rainwater could inundate roads and mixing of rainwater with potable water could result in the spread of epidemics in the city.

The town Nazims raised the issue of Tariq Road, Nursery, Chanesar Goth, Gujjar, Machchar Colony, Pitcher and Kalri Nullahs.

The meeting directed all Nazims and EDO works and services, DO maintenance to proceed in cooperation with the TMAs and ensure at least clearance of major choke points.

The EDO W and S were also directed to carry out repair work on Mauripur road, Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Shah Suleman Road, Tin Hatti, Sher Shah Laval bridge which needs immediate attention.

Regarding the overflowing sewage on roads, the meeting directed the KWSB Chief Engineer, Saleem Azhar, and Nazim Malir to visit and submit report about the sewerage overflows on the Kala Board-Malir Road and EDO W and S to take necessary action regarding Memon Masjid road inundation in Sadar Town.

When Town Nazim Lyari expressed apprehension about inundation of localities, along with the Lyari Expressway, the meeting directed the PS to DCO to arrange a meeting immediately with Col Zulfiqar and Town Nazim with the DCO.

In order to check that the incidents like the Tin Hatti Flyover should not be repeated officials were asked to remove garbage and encroachment from beneath different flyovers and bridges under the supervision of each town nazim.

Referring to low-lying areas, the meeting decided that respective town Nazims would arrange warning system while all TMAs would be responsible for issuing warnings.

Reviewing the matter of vulnerable structures, the meeting asked all town Nazims to persuade the occupants of all such buildings for at least temporary evacuation so that the KBCA could take preventive measures.

Regarding rusty electricity conductors in Lyari Town, the meeting directed the KESC to ensure replacement of rusted/old conductors and pruning of trees.

The meeting also issued instructions to DDO council affairs to coordinate with all TMAs and KWSB, and PTCL to provide manhole covers to each town as per demands.

The KESC was asked to ensure continued power supply to the pumping stations. The KWSB was also directed to arrange alternative power generation equipment in case of power failures.

The meeting noted lauded services of the fire brigade department and asked the its DO to ensure prompt action in future as well.

While taking up the mater of roadside hoardings which could become a hazard in stormy weather, the meeting directed the TMAs to conduct survey and check their strength and vulnerable ones be removed forthwith.

The meeting formed Relief Teams, comprising Town Nazims, TMAs, DDOs(SW), DDOs (Ed), for executing relief operations in case of rain emergency which would cover all aspects, including identification, establishment of relief centres, coordination with the NGOs etc.

The Met office was asked to provide timely information to the CDG control room, Navy and 5-Corps Headquarters.

The City District Government Control Room has started working at the civic centre for 24 hours with phone numbers: 9230061-64. Likewise, control rooms at the TMAs have been made operational in every town.

As the Naib City Nazim expressed apprehension regarding reliability of motors at the Jameela Pumping station, the meeting directed the chief engineer of the KWSB to take due notice so that major city portions could be saved from inundation.