Sindh Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, on Tuesday held an important meeting with regard to grant of permission for required demand of sand used in the Lyari Expressway project. The meeting reviewed the excavation of 'reti/bajri' from various areas of Karachi, particularly from rivers and waterways in Malir, Gadap, Konkar and Dumlottee.
The meeting was informed that despite the ban by the district government on excavation of reti/bajri still a number of elements excavate reti/bajri from the area, which results in drop in sub-soil water level whereby there is always apprehension of shortage of water in various wells and under-ground reserves.
As a result this can affect the cultivation of vegetables and fruits in these areas.
It was informed that 55 percent vegetables are supplied to Karachi from the areas around Karachi while 45 percent come from interior of Sindh.
It was stated that President General Pervez Musharraf had laid the foundation stones of Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass on May 11, 2002 and so far a lot of construction work has been completed which will pick up further pace after speedy supply of required quantity of sand.
The representatives of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), NLC, DO Mines and Mineral Development, taluka nazim, taluka municipal administration, Gadap Town, DCO Karachi, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Chief Secretary Mohammed Aslam Sanjrani and Brigadier Tariq Butt of Corps-5 apprised the meeting about their suggestion.
The meeting decided to take alternative arrangements into consideration in this regard so that not only the supply of required quantity of sand could be ensured, the livelihood of people residing around Karachi is also not affected.
In this regard a 30-day time will be given during which Home Department will ban the excavation of sand from rivers and nullahs under section 144 Cr.P.C.
The meeting was attended, among others, by DIG Crimes Karachi, Secretary Mines and other officials.
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