KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah 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 Commissioner Karachi Asif Hyder Shah, Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher, Administrator KMC Sajjad Abbasi, MD KWSB Misbahuddin Farid and other concerned KMC, KWSB and DMC officers.
The Sindh 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.
Misbah said that there were 24 points in the city where sewerage system has either choked or damaged. “We have started repair work to solve the problems,” he said and added that there were 350,000 manholes in the city and his team was personally keeping an eye on their covers.
The Sindh 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 would personally visit the entire city or send my team for the purpose and then no excuse would be accepted,” he said categorically.
He directed Commissioner Karachi 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.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah concluding his visit 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 heir 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 encroachment. He also urged KMC to remove encroachment from the main roads and streets.
