KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said the five spells of unprecedented heavy rains have claimed 80 lives, including 47 in the city and the sixth spell has also been anticipated. The CM was addressing a press conference here at the CM House. He was accompanied by provincial ministers Mukhesh Chawla, Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah and Adviser Murtaza Wahab.
The CM told that on Aug 27, Karachi received 230 mm rainfall and if the average of the entire rain fall on Thursday was calculated it would be over 150 mm. This is unprecedented [rain] and has broken all the previous records, he said and added that the intensity of the rain could be assessed from the fact that last night he had visited the city and his vehicle got stuck up and finally he had to disembark. When stepped in the water on the road, I found it was over four feet deep and I could not visit nursery, he told.
The CM Shah said on Aug 27, 230 mm rainfall was recorded at PAF Faisal Base, 195mm Surjani, 169mm Kiamari, 167.8mm North Karachi, 162mm Nazimabad, 154mm PAF Masroor, 142mm Saddar, 126mm Landhi, 212.9 old area around airport, 105 Saadi Town and 49mm Gulshan-e-Hadeed. These were unprecedented rains and the five spells, from July 6 to Aug 28 have claimed 80 valuable lives, he told and said, they include 47 in Karachi (due to roof collapse, drowning and electrocution.
Replying to a question about the power of the mayor, Murad Shah said some people were perplexed to get power they were given under the SLGO-2002. In that SLGO-2002 they had revenue powers to allot land and had the authority to make direct recruitments, he said and added under those powers, the champions of SLGO-2002 had commercialized all the residential areas in the city, allotted land along the embankments and in the bed of storm water drains.
The CM said they made direct and illegal recruitments in KMC, Water Board and DMCs to such an extent that these organizations have yet to recover from the financial pressure of their salaries bill. This is what they want "I mean they want to wreak havoc with the organizations once again," he said.
Murad Ali Shah said chairman PPP was worried about the relief work in the city and he kept calling him on his cell phone after every hour to get him updated. Murad Ali Shah said all the encroachments from storm water drains, nallas and government lands would be removed irrespective of any discrimination.
We would not bulldoze only small structures but all the petrol pumps, plazas and commercial buildings, he said and added the names of the encroachers or names of the buildings or establishments constructed illegally would be made public. Those who were involved in China cutting and illegal allotment of lands would face the music. Everyone is criticizing the Sindh government but nobody is exposing those who had allotted the lands, allowed illegal structures under their nose and made illegal recruitments, he deplored.
The CM said that the heavy rains have caused heavy losses to life and property all over Sindh. Therefore, I have directed the chief secretary to start a survey of all the losses so that they could be compensated accordingly, he said. He added that these losses, including the damage caused to buildings, life, katcha and pakka houses and standing crops would be documented.
Once the losses are assessed and estimated, the report would be sent to the prime minister who has assured me of his support. I am sure he [the PM] will help us, the chief minister said.
Murad Ali Shah said he has got a report from local bodies about the houses which have submerged so that necessary planning to save them in future could be taken. He added that the Paposh area has suffered huge losses and I am also conducting a survey of the losses caused to business activities so that they could be helped, he said.
The CM said that it has been the history and record of the PPP government which always compensates the losses and the damages. We would form a committee to help the people, he vowed. The chief minister, replying to a question, said the appointment of administrator of KMC and other local bodies was the power of the provincial government and we would appoint, as far as consultation was concerned, it could be made with the federal government.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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