The one-man judicial commission headed by former Justice Amir Hani Muslim on Tuesday sought a comprehensive plan for cleaning of Nullahs in Karachi when Sindh Chief Secretary assured the commission that cleaning of nullahs would be carried out at its earliest. Commission also sought changes made in the designs of constructions on Nehr-e-Khayam in its deliberations on cleaning of nullahs, provision of safe drinking water and cleaning of environment.
Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Muhammad Khalid Sheikh, Chairman Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, officials of National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Sui Southern Gas Company & K-Electric and other departments also attended the meeting.
Chief Secretary Sindh Rizwan Memon stated that government needs sometime to revisit the issue of executing the schemes on two Nullahs ie Gujjar Nullah and Mahmoodabad Nullah. He also pointed out that time is also required to look into the option of handing over the task of schemes execution on these two nullahs to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which is primarily responsible for cleaning nullahs. Mayor Karachi told the commission that Sindh government handed over Gujjar and Mahmoodabad Nullahs to Karachi Development Authority (KDA). However it was decided under the directives of Commission that officials concerned from Sindh Government and KMC would hold meetings with regard to the plan to hand over cleaning of these nullahs to KMC.
Sindh Chief Secretary also informed the commission summary would be approved shortly to allocate the funds for cleaning of these nullahs. Commission also inquired about the reduction in the width of Gujjar Nullah from 200 feet to merely 40 feet. Chief Secretary assured the commission that Nullah would be restored to its original full width.
Commission also took notice of encroachment at Korangi Pumping Station. Meanwhile, Chief commission ordered to remove the cables of various utilities from the surroundings of nullahs. Representatives of K-Electric informed the commission that the utility would coordinate with Mayor Karachi, who has identified the places from where the wirings and pipes are required to be removed. Commission also directed PTCL and NTDC to remove the cables found in the surroundings of nullahs.