SSWMB to develop ‘model roads’ in SITE for improved cleanliness

KARACHI: Managing Director of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah has announced plans to designate two roads in the SITE industrial area as ‘model roads’ to improve cleanliness, garbage lifting and door-to-door waste collection.

He was addressing members of the SITE Association of Industry, a statement said on Tuesday.

The proposed model streets include Naurus Road to Dollar Road and NINA Street. Responding to a complaint from a member, Shah announced that door-to-door garbage collection from industries would begin immediately. He clarified that MUCT (municipal utility charges and taxes) is not an SSWMB tax and that the KMC has no role in cleaning the area. On this occasion, he also provided statistics on garbage collection from the city.

Earlier, SITE President Ahmed Azeem Alvi praised the SSWMB team for their excellent work in the SITE area. He mentioned that the association had launched the ‘Clean & Green SITE’ drive and that the SSWMB’s activities were being shared with members through the association’s platform. He suggested transforming a few streets into model streets.

Chief Coordinator Saleem Parekh assured Shah of the association’s full support and cooperation in making the SITE area clean and green. He added that the meeting had been convened to address the lack of coordination among the signatories of the MoA and to clearly define their roles and responsibilities. He requested that the MD send an introductory presentation for the members’ information. He also mentioned that cleaning the nullahs was a major issue for the SITE area and emphasised that members who want to see SITE clean must pay their SSWMB bills. Former SVP Saleem Nagaria briefed the members in detail about the SSWMB’s services and the agreement signed among the SSWMB, SITE Limited, and the SITE Association of Industry. He commended the SSWMB team for their efforts in cleaning the area despite low collection rates and expressed hope that the new billing portal would help enhance the SSWMB’s collections. He noted that the SITE area had presented a much better picture during the past three years of monsoon rains.