Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: FILE
Presiding over a meeting on Wednesday to review the progress of the cleanliness drive, the CM stressed that if steps are not taken to make the drive sustainable, the entire exercise will fail to create any impact.
During the meeting, the CM was informed that almost 450,896 tonnes of garbage has been removed by the deputy commissioners (DC) and Sindh Solid Waste Management Authority (SSWMA) from September 21 to October 8. He was also apprised that in the same period, approximately 205,805 tonnes of garbage has been lifted from temporary garbage transfer stations (GTS) and landfill sites by SSWMA.
District Central
The meeting was informed that Central District DC has almost cleared the entire area of garbage in his district. Following this, the CM directed him to take a tour of his district to ensure that all garbage is removed and identify suitable spots for placing dustbins.
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District Malir
Malir District DC apprised the CM that almost 75% of garbage has been cleared from his district and complained that citizens continue to litter the street despite the placement of dustbins at different spots.
Further elaborating on the progress of the cleanliness drive, he said that his district once used to be smeared by heaps of garbage lining the streets but almost all garbage has been removed due to his persistent efforts. Main roads of Bhains Colony and Malir 15 and streets in all rural areas have been cleaned, he said.
The CM praised him for initiating a tree plantation drive and asked him to plant trees on the main road of Bhains Colony as well. He also directed the Malir DC to wash the bridges in his area. Moreover, the CM directed Sindh Human Settlements Minister Ghulam Murtaza Baloch to personally monitor the progress of cleanliness activities carried out by Malir DMC and Karachi District Council.
District East
East District DC presented a report to the CM, which mentioned that while the entire area has been cleared of garbage piles, new heaps of waste continue to appear. In response, the CM asked him to take steps for enhancing the performance of the district municipal corporation (DMC) and monitor the performance of SSWMA in the area.
"It is the relevant DMC's responsibility to make sure that SSWMA is working properly," he said.
District South
South District DC also said that all garbage has been removed from areas in his district. However, at the same time, he pointed out that some shopkeepers and eateries, especially those located on the food street in Boat Basin, dump trash on the roads at the day's end.
Solid waste disposal
CM’s directives
After being briefed about the progress of cleanliness activities in the city, the CM directed the DCs to issue warnings to the builders to remove debris from the roads or else their business would be sealed and construction would be stopped.
He also directed them to ensure that all shopkeepers place dustbins near the entrance of their shops.
Addressing the DCs, he said, "I am directing you to start imposing a fine on those throwing trash [on the streets]."
The CM pointed out that some streets on which craters have emerged and those flooded due to overflowing gutters have not been cleaned. He directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Director to take measures for improving the sewerage system in the city so that the roads can be reconstructed.
"First you have to repair the sewerage lines and then I will [be able to] reconstruct the roads," he said.
He also directed Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah to ask KWSB to devise a detailed plan for the overhaul of the sewerage system and submit the plan to him at the next meeting.
Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, provincial ministers, advisers and special assistants assigned with the task to monitor the progress of cleanliness activities, Local Government Secretary Roshan Shaikh, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shahalwani, SSWMA Managing Director (MD) Asif Ikram, KWSB MD Asadullah Khan all also attended the meeting.
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WB allocates funds
Meanwhile, in another meeting between the CM and an eight-member delegation of the World Bank, it was disclosed that WB has agreed to allocate $10 million for the upgrade of SSWMA.
The delegation, led by WB's Urban, Resilience and Land Practice Groups Global Director Dr Sameh Naquib Wahba Tadros, comprised South Asia Urban Sector Manager Dr Catalina Marulanda, South Asia Resilience Practice Manager Christopher Pusch and others. Additionally, Planning and Development Chairperson Naheed Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir and other officials of the Sindh government also attended the meeting.
In the meeting, the CM apprised the WB delegation that SSWMA has been recently established and hence, it would take time to develop it so that it meets the standards of a world-class organisation.
"It is a new organisation and will take time to develop expertise," he said, adding that there is a dire need to operate it in a scientific manner.
Responding to the CM's observation, Dr Tadros said that there is a provision for solid waste management in the Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Programme (KNIP)- another programme initiated with WB's support. Though, he agreed to allocate $10 million for SSWMA, for capacity building, developing technical expertise and construction of a new landfill site.
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The CM informed the delegation that he was keen to develop a modern and environment-friendly landfill site on the outskirts of Karachi.
Explaining his vision, he said, "The landfill site is to be equipped with the required machinery, equipment and gadgets. Technical staff will be hired to run the site and it will be designed to support power generation." The CM added that instead of spending millions of rupees on only garbage lifting, he plans to use garbage to generate funds. "If we are able to achieve this target, SSWMA will be able to run as a self-funded organisation," he said.
On CM's request, WB delegation agreed to construct a landfill site over an area of 500 acres on Karachi's outskirts, for which, the land will be provided by the government.
Sindh Resilience Project
The Sindh Resilience Project (SRP) was also discussed in the meeting between the CM and the WB delegation.
The project, worth Rs9,984 million, includes the development of an irrigation system network comprising six small dams. It also covers areas like flood protection, construction of small recharge dams to allay risks of droughts and flash flooding and provision of technical assistance to the irrigation department. Of the dams to be built under the project, construction of six dams, including Konkar, Jang Shahi, Sabusan, Sankar, Bansar and Naig Dams, is 77% complete. These dams are located in Malir, Jamshoro, Thatta, Sujawal, Dadu, Matiari and Tharparkar districts.
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According to the WB delegation, water levels, as shown in the water table, have risen significantly following the construction of a dam in Malir. Water levels have increased by 100 feet to 400 feet after the recent spell of rainfall, the delegates informed the participants of the meeting. They predicted that similar improvements in water tables for Kohistan and Tharparkar would be observed after the construction of dams in these areas.
Various other initiatives have also been taken under SRP. These include setting up a disaster management information system, establishment of a provincial emergency operational system, development of mobile units, setting up an emergency communication system and developing heatwave resilience through urban forestation. The project also includes the provision of support for devising mechanisms for agriculture hazards assessment, industrial hazard disaster assessment, school-based disaster risk management, early warning system and sea intrusion assessment.
KNIP
At the meeting, KNIP also came under discussion.
According to KNIP Project Director Kazi Kabir, construction of a new drainage system has been started in the area nearby the Arts Council, construction of a parking lot in front of the Karachi Museum is in progress and construction of a road in front of the Arts Council has been completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2019.
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