Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan III: local government seems toothless in retrieving land

The local government has appeared toothless in recuperating encroached land reserved for Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan III (GKSP-III) because of political influence, Business Recorder learnt. According to sources, the construction work on GKSP-III, which was due to commence in March 2008, has not been started yet because of illegal occupation of the land by politically-backed persons.
Sources said the project, which was announced by former city Nazim Mustafa Kamal, is going to be shelved soon as the incumbent local government is showing indifference towards the project. They said the authorities concerned are also reluctant to release funds for the project, despite having undertakings by both federal and provincial governments to equally share its cost of construction.
To a question, sources dispelled the impression that the project would create environmental risks, saying that it would improve the city's environmental condition rather than creating hazards. Moreover, they said the project would not only make the sea belt pollution-free but would also help the authorities concerned in fulfilling the requirements of WTO, EU, USA, ISO and EPA. Sources said the project would also eliminate problems being faced by seafood industry due to contaminated and untreated sewerage water.