Administrator Karachi Laeeq Ahmed has said concerned departments of KMC have been made alert ahead of forecast for excessive rains expected during the coming monsoon season in the city. The cleaning of five major city water drain storms has also started immediately. Chairing a high level meeting to review the monsoon preparations the Administrator warned officials that citizens may face acute trouble if timely measures were not taken for monsoon, said a statement on Friday.
He urged the officers to complete their preparation plans for rainy season without delay and ensure full and comprehensive co-ordination among the departments. The Administrator said that about 350 city buildings had been declared as dangerous and therefore such a strategy has to be devised to enable the fire brigade, rescue unit, building engineers and city wardens to get to the place of incident and carry out rescue works immediately soon after receiving any emergency call.
He said all required machinery and staff would be made available at Liaquatabad no.10 for immediate drainage of rain water from Liaquatabad, Nazimabad and Gharibabad underpasses and such arrangements have been made to save these underpasses from rain water coming from adjoining areas. The Administrator said 20 to 22 such choking points had been identified on the KMC controlled corridors where complains of rainy water stagnation were received in the past whereas 47 other chocking points in six city districts were also identified and for that the concerned
DMC has been directed to take immediate measures for drainage of rain water. During the meeting KMC Administrator instructed director parks to immediately start the trimming of trees alongside main roads and green belts. He said the Managing Director KWSB was being asked to keep the water pumping station in ready condition so these could start functioning right after the rain start in the city.
The Administrator said emergency centres had been established in Civic Centre and the office of the parks department to take immediate action on receiving any complaints. Earlier in a meeting with the representatives of labour union and the incharges and inspector of concerned departments Administrator Karachi Laeeq Ahmed directed to start the cleaning of five of the major city drains from Friday. These include the Gujjar Nullah, Orangi Nullah, Chakor Nullah, Hijrat Colony Nullah and Soldier Bazar Nullah. He also appealed to citizens of Karachi to join hands with KMC in its efforts to do even better arrangements for coming monsoon.