KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that some "politically immature" people are talking about imposition of Article 149 to bring Karachi under federal government's rule. He said it was a mere bubble.
This he said while talking to the media after visiting different districts of the city to review offal lifting and on-going cleaning work of nullahs. He was accompanied by Minister for Education Saeed Ghani, Minister for Local Government Nasir Shah and his Advisor Murtaza Wahab.
A journalist asked the CM that a federal minister and some other responsible people had given statements that under Article 149 of the Constitution, Karachi would be placed under the administrative control of the federal government.
The chief minister said that the statement was beyond his comprehension. "It is a bubble of hot air, and it would fizzle itself out," he said and advised the media "not to take politically immature" people seriously.
To another question, Shah said that during the heavy downpour on July 26 and 27, rainwater accumulated and flooded those areas where traditionally it used to be disposed of naturally.
"During my visit I met with the people of District Central and they pointed out design defects in Green Line project," he said.
"Rehan Hashmi, the chairman of DMC Central, gave me a detailed briefing on the defects of Green Line project and personally showed me all those areas where the pillars of Green Line infrastructure have either been constructed within a Nala or along the Nalas. Therefore they have blocked smooth disposal of rainwater," he said.
The CM urged Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (SIDCL) to consult with the local people before launching any project. "The discussion would reduce the chances of duplication of the works and design defects," he said.
Murad Shah said that he has been releasing funds to clean the Nalas for the last many years.
"Yes, the Nalas are being cleaned every year, but due to encroachment issues some of the portions of Nalas are left without being cleared, therefore they get choked during heavy rains," he said.
The chief minister said that under the World Bank project, SWEEP, the Nalas of the city were being cleaned. "I am telling the people loudly that the World Bank has not released funds so far and whatever funds are being utilized have been released by my government from its own resources," he said.
He said he would visit Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar where the next spell of heavy downpour was being anticipated from August 6.
QAYYUMABAD: The chief minister visited offal dumping site at Qayyumabad where a proper camp was set up to record the weight of offal being brought there.
Briefing the chief minister, Kashif Gulzar said that up to August 2, over 31050 tons of offal have been lifted from six districts of the city.
GUJAR NALA: When Sindh Chief Minister reached Gujar Nala at Liaquatabad No. 4, people of the area gathered there and told the chief minister that rainwater had choked the Nala. As a result the rainwater mixed with sewage gushed into their streets and houses. The chief minister called the municipal commissioner, Central, and directed him to clear their homes and then report to him.
GREENLINE ISSUES: Chairman DMC Central Rehan Hashmi briefing the chief minister at Saifee College and said that the pillar of Green Line Project had been constructed within the Nala.
"This construction has badly narrowed down the drain, therefore rainwater could not get through. As a result it [Nala] overflowed and flooded the entire area."
Chairman DMC Central said that the entire track of Green Line project from KDA Chowrangi to Nagan Chowarngi have been constructed either along the Nala or within the Nala.
He added that this was a serious design defect of the Greenline and without rectifying it the area could not be made safe from havocs of heavy downpour.
Hashmi said the Hyderi Market was inundated with rainwater because the Nala was blocked due to the construction of the Green Line.
The chief minister visited Nagan Chorwangi, KDA Chowrangi and Hyderi Market and personally inspected the problematic points of Green Line.
The chief minister assured the chairman that he would take up the matter with the federal government.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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