Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah taking his personal interest has allowed Karachi Water Board to lift 25 MGD water from Hub Dam, which is at dead level so that water shortage of Karachi could be controlled. He said, “This lifting would continue for next 25 days.”

This was disclosed in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to discuss water issues of the city at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Commissioner Karachi Aijaz Ali Khan, Secretary Local Government Baqaullah Unar, all deputy commissioners and administrators of DMCs. Deputy Commissioner South, Saleem Rajput, said that free tanker services is going on in water-shortage areas like Shireen Jinnah Colony, Machar Colony, different parts of Lyari and some other areas. He said that the through commissioner, Rs10 million have been provided for development works, which have been started. He said that there are 10 drains in the jurisdiction of District South. The Sindh government has provided Rs 20 million for improvement of sewerage system for which 24 schemes have been approved and tenders are being invited.

The deputy commissioner East said that there are 31 union councils in the East but water shortage is only in one union council adding that there are some development issues in the Gulistan-e-Jaura, Mahmoodabad and in some other areas.

He further said that his district has been given a quota of 50,000 gallon of water daily. He said that garbage lifting and transfer station to landfill site has been outsourced by DMC East. “We have given ownership to distribution of water and garbage lifting and are producing good results,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of District Central Fariduddin said that after district West, his district is facing worst shortage of water adding that sometimes it takes 15 to 20 days for release water in its supply system from Karachi Water Board.

He said that water requirement of his district is about 170 MGD but hardly 65 MGD is being provided. Presently, 100 tankers are being provided per day. He requested for provision of 50 more tankers daily which the Sindh chief minister ordered immediately.

The DC Central said that garbage heaps have emerged along the roadsides and in the streets but DMC Central has started lifting the garbage adding that NITs for cleanliness of 15 drains have been issued. He said the government has provided Rs 50 million for repair, restructure and beautification of different roads of the area adding that for repair of Rashid Minhas Road and Ibne Sina Road, work order would be issued within a week.

Deputy Commissioner Korangi, Mohamad Zaman, said that there is not so much water shortage in his district. He said this district has been given a quota of 75 tankers but hardly 25 tankers are used. The garbage lifting along railway tracks, industrial areas have been started and work on cleansing of drains at CBM and removal of encroachment has also been done, he added. Deputy Commissioner District West, Asif Jameel Shaikh, said that his district is badly suffering from the water shortage. He said, “”We are distributing 315 water tankers daily.” As many as 200 tankers are being provided in Baldia and 100 are being distributed through Pakistan Rangers, he added.

He said that the tankers provided to District West are not enough. He said, “We need at least 300 more tankers because there is a requirement of 600 tankers.” The Sindh chief minister directed the chief secretary to allow District West 600 tankers per day. DC Asif Shaikh said that he has been provided funds for lifting garbage. “We have hired machinery to lift garbage lifting from Korangi and Baldia Zone and work has been started in thi regard”, he said. He said, “There are 90 drains out of which 40 are choking. We have started their cleansing and by the end of second week of Ramazan, situation would be much better.” DMC Administrator Malir Tariq Mughal said that around 650 tonnes of garbage is being generated in his area adding that the vans and garbage lifting vehicles of the DMC Malir are very old.

He said, “We have out sourced lifting of garbage of the designated area to Jam Chakro. By the end of third week of Ramazan, lifting of garbage would be completed. The Mehran Highway needs comprehensive repair. We have issued NIT for its repair and work would be started shortly.” Mughal said at least 54 pumping stations f Karachi Water Board is located in his district. The DMC Malir on the directives of Sindh CM has provided water from its resources to 38 small villages. Mohamamd Naeem of DMC South said that 1,000 tonnes of garbage is generated in his area. He said garbage lifting has been outsourced but the contractor lifts 590 daily, therefore, lifting does not create an impact adding that there is acute shortage of sweeping staff. He said each and every UC used to have 70 sweepers but presently 25 sweeping staff is available, therefore, sweeping in the night has been started.

He further said that most f the sweeping staff is Muslim, therefore, they do not perform their duties. The Sindh CM directed the chief secretary to allow appointment of essential staff like sweepers in the union councils. The CM said, “Send me the summary I would lift the ban.” KMC Administrator Laiq Ahmed said that he has received Rs 177 million for providing necessary equipments to KMC hospitals.