Daily Times

KARACHI: KMC Administrator Laeeq Ahmed inspected the ongoing cleaning works of storm water drains during a detailed visit on Sunday.

He went to the Gujjar Nullah, Paposh Nagar, Talib Colony, Hassan Colony and Orangi Town where he directed officers of municipal services and engineering to immediately remove the hurdles in the smooth flow of water in these drains.

The KMC administrator warned that any carelessness in this regard would not be tolerated.

The administrator Karachi instructed them to arrange for manual cleaning where mechanised cleaning is not possible.

He said this process must be completed before the start of rains in Karachi. He also directed municipal officers to ensure immediate transfer of all garbage removed from these drains to landfill sites.

KMC Administrator Laeeq Ahmed said that the width of 200 feet wide drains has now shrink down to just a few feet at some locations due to the establishment of encroachments on the banks of these drains adding that the time has come to decide about this or the city would have to face acute loss in torrential rains. He also appealed to citizens to avoid dumping their garbage in drains or at their edges.

Laeeq said that the hurdles in the flow of water in drains and encroachments should be removed speedily.

He said the cleaning of some of the major drains in metropolis has been outsourced for which the tendering process has been completed and soon the work order would be issued to the private contractor so that this process could continue on permanent basis.

The KMC administrator during his visit also reviewed the trimming work of trees alongside the University Road and also directed the director general of parks to carry out the trimming of big trees immediately.

Meanwhile, a Disaster Management Department has been established in Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC).

Raza Abbas Rizvi has been made senior director of this department. The staff of city wardens, security, fire brigade, search and rescue unit, complain cell 1339 and 1122 would work under the control of senior director disaster management department.