Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the administration of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to clean nullas, improve sewerage system and repair damaged roads within two weeks.
He issued these directives during his visit of the city to personally inspect the condition of sewerage lines, gutters and also condition of the nullahs and roads.
He was accompanied by Karachi Commissioner Asif Hyder Shah, Additional IG Mushtaq Maher, Administrator KMC Sajjad Abbasi, MD KWSB Misbahuddin Farid and other concerned KMC, KWSB and DMC officers.
The CM started his visit with the inspection of a damaged water supply line at Tippu Sultan Road. The MD Water Board briefed the chief minister about the damaged lines and repair work.
MD Water Board Misbah said that there were 24 points in the city where sewerage system had either choked or damaged. “We have started repair work to solve the problems,” he said and added that there were 3,50,000 manholes in the city and his team was personally keeping an eye on their covers.
The CM expressing his displeasure said that it was not his duty to remind the officers of KWSB and KMC of their duty and functions. “Due to your failure (KMC and KWSB officers), the citizens have started looking at me and they are protesting with me,” he deplored, and further directed them to keep the city clean and improve their system, otherwise action would be taken against them.
Qaim Ali Shah, during the visit of an under-repair water supply line at the University Road, near Safooran Chowrangi, issued directives to the KMC, KWSB and DMCs to start lifting garbage from the city, cleans storm water drains/nullahs, maintain sewerage system properly, keep all the manholes covered and repair the damaged roads of the city within two weeks.
“This is a deadline. I must be given your work plan according to the directives with 24 hours and start work on war footings. After two weeks, either I will personally visit the entire city or send my team for the purpose. No excuse would be accepted in this regard,” he said categorically.
He directed Commissioner Asif Hyder Shah to personally monitor the working of KMC, KWSB and DMCs and make the deputy commissioners responsible for inspection of cleanliness and repair work in the city.
The commissioner said that he would further trickle down the inspection work of repair and cleanliness to the level of assistant commissioners. “I will ask them to officially certify the regular cleanliness of their areas, lifting of garbage and debris, covering of manholes and cleansing of the nullahs,” he said, and added that he would also keep the chief minister informed about the day-to-day performance of the local bodies.
The chief minister also inspected the cleanliness work of Manzoor Colony Nullah. “I am quite surprised to see that the KMC’s concerned officers do not know about the location of Manzoor Colony Nullah. When you don’t know the site of the Nullah, how would you clean it?” he asked and warned the concerned authorities to clean it within a week and report him.
He also expressed his displeasure on the growing encroachment along the main roads and streets. “Who allows them to set their patharas and make-shift type of tea shops and stalls along the roads. This causes traffic jam and creates problems for the citizens,” he said, and directed Additional IG Mushtaq Maher to direct police stations not to allow encroachments. He also urged the KMC to remove encroachment from the main roads and streets.
I have never appreciated any action of this remote-controlled CM but this time I have no choice. The PPP has brought in a close relative of a PPP Minister as Commissioner Karachi and would do everything to see him successful but the best if this hostage city can be cleaned in 15 days. It does not look possible because there are many disgruntled in this city who will try their utmost to fail him. But wish him all the best. It is in the interest of a common man.
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