Murad Shah orders reconstruction of drains in Karachi's slum areas

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro to construct drainage system and storm water drains in the Sindh capital’s slum areas to improve the life of the people residing there.

This he said while presiding over a meeting to review post-heavy rain situation in the megapolis.

The meeting was attended by Jam Khan Shoro, Minister for Population & Provincial Disaster Management Authority Mumtaz Jakhrani, Minister for Information Syed Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Local government Ramzan Awan, Managing Director Karachi Water & Sewerage Board Hashim Raza Zaidi, DG PDMA Salman Shah and all deputy commissioners of Karachi division and other concerned officers.

The chief minister said that he had reports that most of the DMCs’ elected representatives and other concerned staff did not bother to participate in the disposal of rain water accumulated on the main roads and different localities.

He directed the local government minister to utilize municipal commissioners and deputy commissioner in such cases. “I want the city clean,” he said.

Read More: 17 dead as torrential rain wreaks havoc in Karachi

Jam Khan Shoro briefed the CM about the entire situation and the visits he made along with other minister to drain out rain water on the first and the second day of the heavy rains.

He said that the Yousuf Goth of district West has submerged in the rain water. The villagers were shifted to a safe area.

He pointed out that some people went to the Yousuf Goth area and advertently smashed the gutters just to block the drain. This caused serious problem to dispose of accumulated water, he said.

On this the chief minister directed the minister local government and DC West to register an FIR and arrest the culprits who were still playing dirty politics just to create problems for the government and the people living there.

It was pointed out that in the area of Lath Basti, District Malir where sea water intrudes in the village particularly during high tide and heavy rains. On this the chief minister directed Irrigation department to construct a retaining wall at Lath Basto.

DC Korangi Mehdi Shah said that the area of Cattle Colony has depressions where rain water has accumulated. Apart from it the colony has no proper drainage system, he said.

Murad Shah directed the local government to send him team to the area to survey it and then start the construction of drainage system.

“I would give you additional funds for construction of its drainage system,” he said and directed the DC to pump out rain water accumulated there.

It was also pointed out that Moriya Goth, Khokhrapar, Future Morr have serious drainage problems. The chief minister directed the local government to reconstruct their drainage system.

“I would suggest you to send your team to the areas pointed in the meeting to survey the problems and then start work on war footings,” he directed the local government minister.

The local government minister said that Lyari was lowest area in the city where water board has 11 pumping stations that’s why rain water disposed within few hours.

The CM said that in the slum areas mostly water remained accumulated for many weeks and created foul smell and mosquitoes in the area. “Why don’t you make a proper arrangement of water disposal there,” he directed Jam Khan Shoro. Shoro said that he has created a separate disvion in KWSB for slum areas. This division would deal only slum areas.

The chief minister questioned the performance of 14,000 employees of the water board and asked the MD why they failed to deliver. “I want those employees who own this city and believe in service to the people and the organization from where there are earning bread and butter of their children,” he said and added there was no space for dead woods in his government.

The meeting was also told that a breach had developed in Thadho Dam, therefore water had penetrated towards Sadi Town. The chief minister directed Irrigation department to inspect Thado Dam and improve it.

Minister for Population & PDMA Mumtaz Jakhrani told the chief minister that he was in touch with mayor and deputy mayor and visited all the affected areas and provided them necessary machinery to pump out water and also dispatched food, water, and other eadibles for the affected people.

The meeting appreciated DC South and Chairman DMC South for their active role in dispoal of rain water in time.

The chief minister directed all the deputy commissioners to start cleanliness work in their areas from today and keep posting him day to day progress.