The Advisor the Sindh Chief Minister on Local Governments Waseem Akhtar has said that a comprehensive and effective plan has been chalked out to deal with the coming monsoon rains in Karachi.
Briefing the newsmen after chairing a meeting of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and towns administrations here on Wednesday regarding preparedness for this year rainy season the Advisor said control rooms would be set up in all 18 towns of the city in which officials of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) would be present round the clock to cope with any emergency during the expected monsoon rains.
He directed that the relief camps should be equipped with doctors, ambulances, medicines and all other necessities and facilities. TMOs would be responsible to set up relief and medical camps in every town, so that in case of any untoward situation during rains the victims could be transferred to those camps.
He said the regular and effective co-ordination between all utility agencies for required arrangements during rains/flood emergency would also be ensured.
He alleged that during four years' tenure of former CDGK, lack of coordination between the utility agencies had worsened the situation, subsequently piling up the civic problems of metropolis.
Advisor said that all concerned departments had been directed to ensure proper cleaning of storm drains, sewerage lines and covering of open manholes.
The garbage, lifted from storm drains and Nullahs during ongoing cleaning campaign, lying on roadsides, would be shifted within three days and germicide sprayed in nearby areas of the drains or Nullahs, he added.
During rain emergency, an ambulance would be present in every fire brigade office of the city. He said the KESC has been directed to effectively participate in rain emergency activities and ensure round the clock liaison with the Central Control Room (134) at Civic Center and also with the Town Control Rooms.
TMOs and officials present in town control rooms would be responsible for immediate reporting of fallen electric wires to KESC and ensure their repair/replacement without any loss of time, he added.
Regarding to ongoing projects, especially of roads he said he had directed concerned authorities for immediate completion of ongoing projects, so that public be facilitated and added that he would himself inspect the work pace of ongoing projects.
Waseem Akhtar assuring the contractors that no excess would be committed with them and their payments would be made timely said they must maintain work standards in the ongoing projects and complete them before the prescribed time.
As part of this plan, the employees of CDGK have been asked to avoid from going on leaves during the emergency. He said that DIG Traffic had been directed to make plan for ensuring smooth flow of traffic during the emergency. He further said traffic personnel would be deputed in 134 Control Room round the clock for making proper liaison between CDGK and Traffic Police for solving traffic jam problems. He said the CDGK would also provide two suction pumps to every town and TMA would be responsible for their regular maintenance and proper utilisation.
CDGK Caretaker and DCO Karachi Fazal ur Rehman, Chief Fire Officer and others were also present.