HYDERABAD, May 15 A report prepared by a court-appointed official reveals that original PC-I of the Right Bank Outfall Drain-II indicates that the drain is to be dug on the right side of Kalri Baghar Feeder and it has only one direct reference that suggests it is to be excavated on the left side the feeder.

The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court had appointed Hyder Ali Nur as court commissioner to determine “whether there is any deviation in RBOD-II project from original PC-I” after residents and landowners of 15-kilometre long green belt situated in Dehs Khanpur, Kotri, Karokhao of Kotri taluka challenged the drain's alignment and claimed that 17 villagers with 100,000 population would disappear if the drain was dug on the right side of the feeder.

Mr Nur submitted the report to the bench comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Mohammad Iqbal Mahar on Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn on Friday.

The reports said that “in view of analysis and findings, it is reported that the information contained in original PC-I indicates that proposed alignment of the drain in PC-I is on the right side of KB feeder.

“Therefore, alignment proposed in tender drawings issued in 2003 and 2006 on left side (east) of the feeder will be a deviation from the alignment proposed in original PC-I document,” it said.

The report lends credence to the petitioner's contention that excavation of the drain on the left side of the feeder was a deviation from the original PC-I.

The report said “PC-I contains local map and layout plans, showing proposed alignment of the drain on on the right side of the feeder. This alignment has been substantiated in the text and various computational data sheets/drawings at several places.

“Only one direct reference was found in the text of PC-I that suggests that proposed alignment of RBOD was on the left side (east) of the feeder,” it said.

The commissioner, however, avoided making comments on how or why it got there and left it to the court to decide it.

Project Director of RBOD-II Rafiq Memon had stated before the court on April 21 that there was an error in the drawings of map but assured that no deviation had been made from the original PC-I. He had said that in the drain's drawings it had been erroneously shown on the right side of the feeder while as per PC-I it had to be dug on its left side.

The court's expert has based his findings on original PC-I of May 2001, tender drawings of September 2003 and December 2006 and constitutional petition, counter-affidavit and petitioners' rejoinder.

His findings refer to six points, which indicate the drain's alignment in PC-I is on the right side of the feeder. “On page 16 under sub-heading 'alignment' first paragraph states 'RBOD alignment is shown on the right side of the feeder in these drawings'”.

He said that “para-3 on page-20 states 'from Jamshoro up to National Highway below Kotri, KB feeder and national railway lines would require realignment or lined concrete section of KB feeder and drain and these measures would be required in case RBOD was to be laid on the right side of the feeder.

“The only direct reference in PC-I indicating alignment of RBOD on the left side in subject area was found on page-20, para-2,” he said.

The court adjourned the case to May 21 and directed Project Director Rafiq Memon and other officials to be present in the court.

The petitioners Mushtaq Shoro, Mohammad Sharif Chaudhry, Essa Khan and Hameeduddin Arain prayed the court to declare change in alignment of the drain as unlawful.