After a detailed visit to the city following the heavy downpours on Monday Governor and Chief Minister Sindh, who were accompanied by City Nazim, observed that establishment of encroachments over the main storm water drains are causing flooding of rainwater on roads and streets.
Sources in City District Government Karachi (CDGK) said the governor and chief minister were briefed about the issue of encroachments on seven storm water drains especially on Gujjar Nullah.
On Monday's night, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan visited different areas of the city including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Nursery, Karsaz, Stadium Road, Hassan Squire, Esa Nagri, Gharibabad, Liaqatabad, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Nagan Chowrangi, North Karachi, Sohrab Goth, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Karimabad, Old Sabzi Mandi, Jail Road, Jacob Lines, Sadar, Abdullah Haroon Road.
During the visit, Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal said encroachments have been established on the seven major drains of the city. He maintained that according to original layout plan the width of the drains was about 77 meters that has now been reduced to just five to seven meters at some points through setting up encroachments due to which it is become impossible to clean these drains and clear hurdles hindering flow of rainwater. The sources said that Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah assured City Nazim to solve the encroachment issue over Gujjar Nullah.
Although, rainwater is still stagnating on roads and streets in different areas especially in lower laying areas, City Nazim claimed that the city received 125 millimeters rain on Monday evening in a very short time, however no pumps or machines were used to drain out the water and was cleared through existing infrastructure within few hours after the rain.
"City Government alone can not solve this problem. All political parties and citizens besides media have to fulfil their responsibilities for resolution of the issue," he urged, adding that any measure by the Government to remove these encroachments is dubbed considered as political or ethnically motivated move.
However, City Nazim said that work on the channelizing of Gujjar Nullah has already been started. Width of this drain will be restored to its original layout plan, which is 77 meters, he added. City government has completed all its homework and anti encroachment drive would be started to clear Gujjar Nullah within a week without any discrimination, he added.