SSWMB told to ensure lifting of 154,482 tonnes of offal, garbage during Eidul Azha

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has instructed the local bodies, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and other relevant authorities to ensure that Karachi is kept clean and tidy during Eidul Azha.

Additionally, he emphasizead the importance of de-silting the storm water drains before the start of the monsoon season. Shah issued these directives while chairing a meeting held at the Chief Minister House on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani, Makhdoom Mahboob, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, provincial secretaries, MD SSWMB Imtiaz Shah, KMC municipal commissioner, Army and Navy representatives, CEOs of cantonments, Chief Meteorologist Dr Sarfraz, and Director KE Haris Siddiqui.

SSWMB MD Imtiaz Shah briefing the CM said that as per the last year 2023 Eidul Azha figures, some 113,000 tonnes of residual waste and municipal solid waste were generated in Karachi, which were efficiently and timely lifted and disposed of in trenches at landfill sites.

This year, 2024 Karachi is expected to generate 96782 tonnes of offal and 154,482 tonnes of garbage for which 99 collection points have been set up in 246 union committees of the city, the CM was told. As per the SSWMB figures, District Central is expected to generate 31,100 tonnes of offal and garbage followed by District East 27050 tonnes, Korangi 24,285 tonnes, South 20,303, Keamari 18,349 tonnes, Malir 16481 tonnes and District West 16,481 tonnes of waste.

The CM was told that the SSWMB also prepared a comprehensive plan to execute the grand cleanliness operation on the occasion of Eidul Azha. The SSWMB has started training sessions for all designated staff at each collection point. Complaint cells/control rooms have been established at the Head Office as well as in all districts of Karachi Division, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana.

The complaint numbers of the SSWMB Head office and district offices are published on social media, print media and electronic media for convenience of the public to approach the service in case of any complaint.

The CM directed the SSWMB to ensure fumigation sprays at all notified collection points at the closing time of each day to control the spread of infectious diseases and bad odours/smell, in collaboration with the KMC. He added that the sprinkling of lime powder must be done at each collection point after the closing of operations on each day.

Shah also directed th SSWMB to coordinate with allied agencies, including cantonment boards -- Faisal, Malir, Clifton, Karachi, Korangi Creek, Manora -- and the Port Qasim Authority and assured them of coordination and assistance for offal operations.

Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi said that his office on the request of the SSWMB has imposed a complete ban for five days from June 16 to 20 against the illegal activity of tearing offal by scavengers.

The CM was told that some events of flash/urban flooding could not be ruled out in upcoming Monsoon 2024 that is expected to commence in Pakistan on June 28/29. The second half of the season, August onwards, seems to be wetter.

Commissioner Hassan Naqvi told the CM that there were 310 flash/choking points in the city. They include 149 in District Kiamari, 71 in West, 29 in Malir, 22 in Central, 20 in South, 12 East, seven in Korangi,

It was also disclosed that there were 207 low-lying areas in the city, including 56 in the South district, 38 in East, 32 in Malir, 26 in Keamari, 22 in Central, 17 in West and 16 in Korangi.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab told the CM that he had enforced a contingency plan under which all the choking points in the 45 Nullahs of the KMC were being fixed. He added that cleaning and de-silting of the Nullahs had been started.

The de-watering machines are ready and would be installed in the low-lying areas in case of heavy downpours. The chief minister directed the SSWMB, KMC, Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation, towns of the city, cantonments and PDMA to develop close coordination and start implementing their respective contingency plans so that any eventuality could be dealt with properly and well in time.