KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar has said that the monsoon rains is about to start, but cleaning of drains has not started yet, KMC does not have funds for cleaning of drains. Addressing a press conference at Frere Hall here on Saturday, he said that no funds are being released to KMC, said a statement.

He said that the KMC will not be able to clean Karachi's storm drains due to lack of funds, so the Sindh government is requested to release immediate funds in this regard.

He said that the problem of cleaning rainwater drains needs to be addressed immediately and we have to take practical steps to control the situation in time.

KMC is looking to the Sindh government in this regard, he added.

Wasim Akhter said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning and if the cleaning of storm drains is not started immediately, irreparable damage could be done.

Wasim Akhter said that Rs. 437 million was released for the cleaning of drains in Karachi during the tenure of administrator in 2016, and the cleaning of drains was done. He said that on the order of Water Commission, Rs 500 million was released for cleaning the drains in 2017-18, which cleared the nullahs and this work was completed in June 2018.

Since last cleaning in June 2018, no cleaning of drains is performed and now the KMC does not have funds for cleaning of nullahs, he added.

He said that the list of 38 major drains has been given to the Government of Sindh and all the districts regarding the cleaning of small drains and a physical feasibility report on the needs of municipal corporations for cleaning of small drains has been sent to the Sindh government, he said.

Deputy Mayor Karachi Syed Arshad Hassan, Senior Director Coordination Masood Alam, Senior Director Municipal Services Noman Arshad and other officials were also present on the occasion.