Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Thursday called for taking such far reaching steps in Karachi and other cities of the Province whereby the problems taking place during and after rains could be effectively overcome.
He was chairing a high level meeting held at Chief Minister House in which the losses caused by rains and rehabilitation of civic facilities were reviewed.
The meeting was attended by Advisor Local Government Waseem Akhtar, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Mirza Karim Baig, DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, MD KWSB Brigadier Iftekhar Haider and Chief Executive Siemens Sohail Wajahat.
The Relief Commissioner Syed Anwar Haider informed the meeting that over all no major damage was caused by rains in Sindh, except some losses, which occurred in Keti Bundar, District Thatta where people were lodged in relief camps.
Briefing the meeting City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said that rain water accumulated in only some specific areas in Karachi including Clifton where KPT was carrying out development work.
Arbab immediately set up a committee, headed by Secretary Implementation Nazar Hussain Mahar to conduct inquiry about accumulation of rain water in KPT under-pass and adjoining areas. The committee will submit its report within few days. Dr Arbab said he would go on a visit to various areas of Karachi on Friday. He directed that encroachments set up on storm water drains in Karachi should be immediately removed.
City Nazim Mustafa Kamal told the Chief Minister that all the drains in Karachi were handed over to KWSB three months back and most of them were also cleaned. However, in Clifton area, the main drain had been blocked by KPT, which resulted in accumulation of water. He informed that a building too has been constructed on the Clifton drain, which blocked draining of rain water.
Sindh Irrigation Secretary informed the Chief Minister that situation of LBOD in Sindh is satisfactory while there is no flood situation in River Indus. It was informed that so far 19 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents.
The performance of KESC also came under review in the meeting and it was decided to convene another meeting to be held with the participation of officials of Cantonment, DHA, CAA, KPT, Railway and such other organisations which maintain land/drains so that a clear strategy could be chalked out with regard to all the storm water drains in Karachi.