Daily Times

KARACHI: The Judicial Commission directed the home secretary and provincial chiefs of Rangers and police to set up check posts and ensure round-the-clock patrolling along the bed of Malir river to stop lifting of sand.

The commission constituted to probe water and sanitation woes and implement the directives of the Supreme Court to address the situation expressed grave concern over the lifting of sand from the Malir riverbed, saying it was damaging water conduits passing under it.

The apex court had allowed the judicial body to continue its work with all powers conferred on it to ensure implementation of the its directives and recommendations.

Advocate General Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Additional Attorney General Salman Talibuddin, home secretary Qazi Shahid Pervaiz, secretary irrigation Jamal Mustafa Syed, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director Hasham Raza Zaidi, showed up before the commission.

They submitted their compliance reports on the issue of lifting of sand from Malir riverbed, which were taken on record.

During last hearing, the commission had observed that the water conduits, including GK-I, K-II, K-IV supplying water to the entire city were prone to damage due to lifting of sand. It had directed the authorities concerned to stop sand lifting and secure the 4.5 kilometer-long area of Malir riverbed.

In compliance of the orders, the district and sessions judge, Malir had submitted a report, highlighting that the illegal activities of sand lifting from the riverbed have been continuing unchecked.

However, the DIG East and SSP Malir maintained that no such activity of sand lifting was ongoing in the areas falling in their jurisdiction. When confronted with the report of the sessions judge, they sought four days’ time to submit a comprehensive report in that regard.

The DIG had requested the judicial body to direct the Rangers director general to set up three check posts along Malir River to check the illegal activity of sand lifting. Subsequently, the Rangers were directed to conduct a survey along the river to identify points along the riverbed to set up check posts.

The commission had earlier directed the district and sessions judge to depute a judicial magistrate to conduct random surprise visits to check on the continuing practice of sand lifting from the riverbed.

In compliance with its orders, the judicial magistrate submitted a report pointing out that there were so many ditches and excavator marks on the riverbed, which substantiated that sand lifting was going on in night hours.

Subsequently, the Rangers agreed to deploy two mobiles to patrol the area round the clock. In addition, the home secretary also undertook to set up three police pickets along the river and police mobiles patrolling the areas.

The commission also ordered the home secretary to ensure proper and full security of Dhabeji and other pumping stations providing water to the city.

The commission would resume its proceedings on May 20.