The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday once again ordered Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to remove encroachments from rainwater drains within 15 days. A SHC bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan gave the direction of removing encroachments from storm or rainwater drains and clean those drains within 15 days.
The bench was hearing the petition filed by Rana Faizul Hassan, Secretary General of NGO Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, who sought the cleaning and removal of encroachments from storm-water drains ahead of monsoon season. The court showed its anger that why its order had not been compiled with yet.
It is pertinent to mention here that the SHC in August 2013 had ordered KMC to remove encroachments from all the drains of the metropolis and submit a compliance report, but KMC failed to do so. According to the petitioner Rana Faizul Hassan, big and small storm-water drains, which are the major source of the draining out rainwater, had been encroached upon, causing inconvenience to public as rainwater accumulates in their areas. The petitioner pointed out that 90 percent storm-water drains passing through highways have been encroached.
He stated that all storm-water drains, including Lyari Naddi, Malir Naddi, Korangi Naddi had been encroached, which caused hurdle in draining out rainwater in monsoon season. He said people had also encroached upon the drains by erecting buildings. Despite the SHC order in 2013, the KMC had failed to remove the encroachments at yet. On Friday's hearing, Hassan, the petitioner submitted that draining system of Karachi could collapse if it rained for two hours. The court showed displeasure and stated that the case would be sent to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) if the relevant authority failed to remove the encroachments.
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