Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman SITE Affairs Sub-Committee HCCI, while speaking to Business Recorder in response to a question regarding development of industry in Hyderabad, said that the infrastructure in SITE Hyderabad is severely damaged. Water supply is scanty or there is no any arrangement of even raw water supply to the industry. Some of the industries arrange water through water tankers.
Encroachment in SITE area is another major problem in smooth movement of traffic and transportation of goods. Broken roads are major source of accidents of trucks carrying heavy industrial goods thereby causing heavy losses to the owners of industries. Poor drainage conditions garbage and industrial refuse spread on roads and burning of the garbage is common feature resulting in health problems.
The smoke from industrial refuse not only is the source of respiratory diseases but also affects the quality of cotton yarn and raw cotton thus these items fetch low price in international market. Street lights are absent due to which law-and-order situation gets worst during night hours. Mostly looters snatch mobiles and salaries from poor labourers in the darkness, whereas SITE staff does not work even towards controlling the encroachments. Some time ago SSP Hyderabad Haseeb Afzal Baig on the request of industrial community increased Police Force by 6 policemen. We request the honourable Minister for industries and commerce to use his good offices to approach Home Department Government of Sindh for further enforcement. He further added that we have also learnt through reliable sources that the Honourable Minister for Industries and Commerce has released some funds for the repair of roads of SITE, Hyderabad. However, he added that more than 3 years ago some industrialists had deposited about Rs 2 Carore 55 Lac and 68 Thousand towards allotment of industrial plots in SITE Extension (Phase-II) area, yet the final allotment orders are to be issued in this respect.
Siddiqui further added that it is also learnt that a proposal regarding enhancement/revision of rates on various heads of accounts is being moved for approval of the Board of Directors of SITE, Government of Sindh. He said that only one year ago the rates were increased and now again such proposal was under consideration. This enhancement was not acceptable to the industrial community and urged SITE Authorities not to enhance the rates as the cost of production has already gone up due to increase in electricity, gas and other petroleum products. He, therefore, urged the SITE Authorities Government of Sindh to get the condition of SITE area in Hyderabad and Kotri improved on priority basis. The deteriorated condition of infrastructure of SITE Hyderabad, scanty raw water, poor drainage, no street lights, illegal encroachment and poor law-and-order situation in Hyderabad may be addressed on priority basis in order to generate more income and jobs for the local people of the area.