The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday summoned administrators of Karachi’s all district metropolitan corporations (DMCs) to inform the court why its order for removing encroachments from sewerage and storm water drains (nullhas) has not been complied with.
The SHC bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat was hearing the petition filed by Rana Faizul Hassan, Secretary General of NGO Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, who sought cleaning and removal of encroachments from storm water drains.
On Wednesday’s hearing, the court asked the DMC South’s counsel that why the encroachments from water drains and nullahs had not been removed yet.
“The DMCs were not provided with funds for the last two years and removal of encroachments does not come within its ambit, rather it is job of KMC to remove the encroachments,” he replied.
The court directed the administrators of DMC East, West, South, Central, Malir and Korangi to appear before the court along with complete record on the next date of hearing.
Earlier on 28th September, the SHC directed all DMCs to expedite the cleaning of drains and removal of encroachments from nullahs falling within their respective jurisdictions. The SHC in 2013 had ordered of removing the encroachments at rainwater drains but despite the higher judiciary’s order the KMC still failed to do so.
According to the petitioner, big and small storm-water drains, which are major source of draining out rainwater, had been encroached upon causing inconvenience to public as rainwater accumulates in their areas. The petitioner pointed out that 90 percent of storm-water drains passing through highways were encroached. He stated that all storm-water drains, including Lyari Nadi, Malir Nadi, Korangi Nadi had been encroached upon which caused hurdles in draining out rainwater in monsoon season. He said people had also encroached upon the drains by erecting buildings.