Anti-encroachment drive: Thousands on verge of homelessness in Sindh

Sindh cabinet to request Supreme Court for time to rehabilitate those affected before demolishing their homes

KARACHI: At the recently held khuli kutcheries [open meetings] by the provincial ministers, an urgent concern of hundreds of thousands of people came to the forefront. Anti-encroachment drives have left numerous across Sindh on the verge of homelessness. In light of this, the Sindh Cabinet resolved on Tuesday to request the Supreme Court to allow the Sindh government to make alternative arrangements before demolishing the human settlements along the dykes of canals.

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah informed the cabinet that around 40,000 families have been displaced under the anti-encroachment drive currently underway along the dykes of River Indus and other canals in Sukkur. Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh seconded the concern. He said that people were demanding resettlement. In a similar vein, Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahoo said that over 10,000 families of the ‘scheduled caste’, who resided along the embankments of the canals in Badin district, have been displaced and are now living under the open sky. Livestock Minister Bari Pitafi added that a large number of people were being rendered homeless in Ghotki and other ministers and advisers echoed the same concern.

This prompted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in consultation with cabinet members, to direct his adviser on law, environment, climate change and coastal development, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, to request the apex court to grant the Sindh government a reasonable amount of time to make alternative arrangements for the people being affected by the anti-encroachment drive. If the people living along the embankments of canals are displaced in this chilly weather, they would be compelled to encroach somewhere else, he said, adding that this could potentially cause the loss of human lives. Shah directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to provide tents and blankets to the communities which have been displaced. He issued directives to the district authorities to facilitate the people living under the open skies.

Besides, the CM constituted a four-member committee comprising Revenue and Relief Minister Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Human Settlement Minister Murtaza Baloch, Nasir Hussain, and Rehabilitation Minister Faraz Dero, to locate government lands where those affected by the drive could be resettled before their houses - constructed along the dykes of the canals - are razed to the ground. Nasir Hussain informed the cabinet that the CM has already approved 200 acres of land for Sukkur but more land is needed for the people of Larkana, Ghotki, and other districts.

Khuli Kutcheri

The ministers gave the cabinet an overview of the concerns voiced by the people during the open meetings. In Hyderabad, the issue of sanitation and cleanliness was highlighted. According to Adviser to CM on Works and Services and Universities and Boards Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, the government is releasing funds but they are not being utilised properly. Shaikh said that there were complaints of extra-judicial killings and poor law and order conditions in Shikarpur. In Larkana, Rahoo said that the people in Larkana also complained against the police as well as the revenue, health and local government departments. The people of Kashmore and Ghotki expressed similar complaints. In Naushehro Feroze, Kambar-Shahdadkor, and Sanghar, the lack of education facilities was highlighted whereas in Shahdadpur it was water scarcity. Several districts complained of the lack of health facilities and local government issues, among others.

The CM directed all provincial ministers to continue to hold open public meetings in all districts of the province. The cabinet decided to conduct the meetings in two parts - in first, half of a district’s vicinity would be covered while the second would cover the remaining areas. Two ministers would be sent to each district to address the problems of the areas. The ministers were also directed to submit reports of the meetings they recently held in their assigned districts. The chief secretary was told to direct all relevant officers in each district to begin taking steps to address the problems of their districts.

New hires

The services and general administration wing presented a proposal for the Institute of Business Administration, Sukkur, to conduct the test for government jobs in various departments. It was proposed that the institute would invite applications for officers of Grade BS five to 15 and conduct screening tests. The candidates would have to score at least 50 per cent marks to qualify for interviews and in the interview, separate weightage would be assigned to the test marks, and that of their relevant degrees, according to the proposal. The CM directed all provincial departments to submit updated lists of vacant positions in their departments. Separate tests would be conducted for matric, intermediate and bachelors graduates, and the test would be valid for three years. The cabinet has already decided that positions of Grade BS one to BS four officials would be filled locally through district selection committees.

Exemptions and exceptions

Also discussed at the cabinet meeting was the request submitted by Wahab for exemption from the rules of the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) for the procurement of a mini oil palm extraction mill. The cabinet was informed that a pilot project on 50-acres of land in Kathore Forest, Thatta, was initiated in 2016-17. The plantation is being maintained in accordance with the recommendations of Malaysian oil palm experts, said Wahab, adding that oil palm trees are blooming with rich fruit.

However, according to Wahab, oil palm fruit is going waste due to the non-availability of an oil palm extraction mill. The cabinet conceded to relaxing the rules of the SPPRA for the procurement of the mills.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah sought the exemption from Sindh Sales Tax on Services for provincial and federal low-cost housing schemes. The cabinet approved the exemption for the construction of houses on plots less than 125 square yards and of flats on plots less than 900 square feet.

The cabinet meeting lasted for five hours and was attended by all ministers, advisers and special assistants. The CM told the local government minister to direct all local bodies to undertake cleanliness work in their areas. As the Sindh Police IGP was not present at the meeting, it was decided that the peoples’ grievances from the police, would be communicated to him in writing. The CM informed the cabinet that the IGP is on medical leave. Besides, the CM briefed the cabinet on the meeting of the Council of Common Interests, which was held on December 23. The cabinet was told that Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Federal Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh to redress the grievances of Sindh and return the Rs16 billion deducted by the Federal Board of Revenue. The CM further stated that the prime minister had assured him of regular CCI meetings.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2019.