Karachi
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Friday to outsource cleaning of storm water drains on urgent basis.
He issued the directives while presiding over a joint meeting of KMC and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to review the ongoing precautionary measures being taken for the monsoon expected anytime in the city.
Officials who attended the meeting included finance minister Murad Ali Shah, local government minister Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon, local government secretary Noor Mohammad Leghari, Commissioner Karachi Asif Hyder Shah, KMC interim Administrator Roshan Ali Shaikh and Shaikh DG PDMA Salman Shah.
The chief minister expressed his surprise over the fact that KMC and DMCs had no workers dedicated for cleaning storm water drains. “Even 200 workers will be more than enough to take up the cleaning work, but sorry to say all the work so far have only proven to be opportunities for photo sessions,” the chief minister deplored.
He directed the KMC Administrator to outsource the cleaning of storm water drains on emergency basis.
Administrator Karachi said there were about 30 major storm water drains in the city and most of them had been encroached upon badly. "Without removing encroachment, proper cleaning of these drains is not possible,” he commented, adding that he had taken up cleaning work on Gujjar, Picher and Kalri drains on war footing.
Local government minister Jam Khan Shoro said he had directed all local bodies, including the KMC to declare emergency for the expected showers. "We have mobilised our machinery for cleaning the drains and have activated emergency centres,” he said.
The chief minister remarked that garbage accumulated along the storm water drains was the main reason for their blockage, to which the local government minister replied that he had outsourced listing of garbage to DMC South. “Tenders have been issued and work is being awarded. I have also asked DMC Malir and Korangi to follow suit,” he remarked.
The chief minister directed Commissioner Asif Hyder Shah and KMC administrator to develop close coordination between the deputy commissioners concerned and DMC administrators.
He was clear in his instructions that DMC administrators and deputy commissioners, who failed to deliver, should be removed. “These officials are there to serve the people and it their prime duty to keep their respective areas clean. The deputy commissioners and DMC Administrators are joint signatories of their bills, so they are equally responsible for utilization of public funds,” he said.
The meeting was also informed that 750 billboards had been removed from within the jurisdiction of KMC on instructions of the Supreme Court.
The PDMA chief remarked that he had already provided the necessary guidelines to all divisional and district administrations for formulation of monsoon contingency plans.
The CM's directives came a day afterthe acting chief of theKarachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Roshan Ali Shaikh,declared a state of emergency in the cityin view of forecasts forheavy rainfall over the next week.
The actingadministrator haddirected all departments to complete necessaryarrangements for timelydrainage of rainwater and any otheremergentsituations.
He also orderedthe staffers to be present at work round-the-clock and cancelled the off days of workers of essential departments.The officers were instructed to depute their staff in three shifts to ensure their availability 24 hours a day.