The Rs 255 million project to drain out storm water from Clifton during rainy season into sea through Nehar-e-Khyam has been shelved, official sources told Business Recorder here on Monday. During the last monsoon season the drain, known as Nehar-e-Khyam, get choked resulting in flooding of the entire Clifton area.
The overflowing of the drain had almost submerged the residential areas causing severe difficulties and agony to the inmates. It had become almost impossible to live with dirt and filth all around.
Much to the surprise of the department responsible for the construction of the drain, while the plans for the up-gradation of the drain were underway, a provincial minister claimed the entire area of Nehar-e-Khyam as his property.
According to details available here that channelizing of the Nehar-e-Khyam was planned by the Sindh government on the directive of the President of Pakistan and the project would have to be executed by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK). In an initial phase, the department would de-silt of mud from bed and side of Nehar-e-Khyam besides providing and installing stone pitching and stone toe wall for strengthening the base and sides of Nehar-e-Khyam.
However, a provincial minister approached Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister, Sindh in this regard and requested him to cancel the project, official sources said. Furthermore, they said the minister had claimed the Nehar-e-Khyam area, which is around one kilometer as his property. Therefore, the decision to channelize the Nehar-e-Khyam was rolled back by the concerned authority.
To a question, they said the minister intend to use the space for commercial purpose and added that the plotting of the land is already underway. They lamented the residents of Clifton and adjoining areas would face similar difficulties confronted in last monsoon season, if the project was not executed.