Civic agencies on Monday flouted the orders of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to remain active during rain as the Karachiites braved prolonged power outages, accumulated water on the roads, inundated streets and chocked sewage system in neighborhoods of the city, this correspondent observed.
The city received 50 millimeters of rain that exposed the inefficiency of civic authorities: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), District Municipal Corporations (DMCs), Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) and K-Electric.
The poor transmission system of K-Electric has pushed the citizens to register their outcry on Twitter. A person named Burhan Muzafar tweeted a picture of fallen wire on a vehicle in his area, requesting the K-Electric to fix the same.
"Please replace these wires with bundled cables. [During] last rain your team fixed the same wire. I asked them to replace the wires. Instead of replacing they asked for Rs15,000 bribe," Muzafar complained. However, K-Electric online complaint system promised him to fix the issue.
Indifferent attitude of civic bodies not only haunted the citizens but also cattle farms located in different parts of the city, which were inundated.
A cattle farm of over 100 buffalos completely deluged in rainwater where the livestock was seen stranded in the accumulated water seeking the help from emergency services of KWSB.
On pathetic situation of the city, chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reiterated his directives to local government department to activate all civic agencies in the city and other districts of province to drain out rain water accumulated in low lying areas, and from the roads.
He directed Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh to ensure proper water supply and dewatering in all the districts receiving heavy rains by ensuring power supply by K-Electric and Hesco.
Shah said that officials of local bodies, water board and WASA must be activated to keep clearing manholes to drain out rain water from roads. The nullas in Karachi and Hyderabad were being cleansed so that they could intake and dispose off rain water. He added that dewatering pumps be installed at the low lying areas on generators. "There is forecast of heavy rains for three days, therefore round the clock working in shifts must be ensured," he said.
Murad told energy minister to talk to Hesco, where all 12 feeders have tripped while in Karachi most of the areas were without electricity from early Monday morning, for restoration of power supply. He added that K-Electric and Hesco were on board in rain emergency meetings, then why they could not make emergency plans.
The chief minister also directed IG police to direct district police to help people in difficult situation. "People must feel secure and safe in presence of policemen," he said and added the traffic police particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad must help people for smooth flow of traffic.
Shah urged people of Sindh, particularly of Karachi to cooperate with civic agencies, police and other government officials in serving them. He urged citizens not to allow their children taking bath in accumulated rain water pools on the road and even stop them bathing in the sea.
"This is hi-tide season, therefore necessary precautions must be taken," he urged.
Karachi water board informed the chief minister that power outage at Pipri and Dhabeji has badly affected water supply to the city.
The MD water board also informed CM Secretariat that he had installed dewatering pumps at different areas of the city for pumping out accumulated rain water.
Meanwhile, universities in the city have cancelled the examination scheduled for Tuesday in wake of more rains in the city.
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