Agencies demand Rs200m to clear nullahs in Hyderabad

WASA, HMC bicker over preparations for monsoon rains in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: As citizens wonder whether the upcoming monsoon rains will submerge parts of Hyderabad for a second consecutive year, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) have only around a month to prepare for any flooding - subject to the release of Rs200 million by the provincial government.

Both organisations, though, possess a record of questionable service delivery besides confronting a permanent irritant of shortage of funds. What complicates matters further is an overlap in jurisdiction, leaving overflowing nullahs waiting for cleaning, mostly in City taluka.

Two weeks ago, deputy commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro convinced WASA to grudgingly take responsibility for cleaning five larger nullahs in City taluka - a task it has been evading since April, 2016. At that time, a notification by the then-local government secretary had transferred all pumping stations of HMC and Qasimabad municipal committee (QMC) as well as nullahs in City, Latifabad and Qasimabad to WASA for operation and maintenance.

Agreeing to operate the pumping stations, the agency remained adamant against taking responsibility for the nullahs, citing lack of expertise and manpower.

After the DC's recent intervention, WASA conditionally agreed to undertake the task - if provided Rs130 million in funds. The HMC separately submitted a demand for Rs40 million for cleaning the smaller drains and the main nullah in Latifabad taluka.

Adding in the Rs25 million required by QMC and Rs5 million required by Tandojam municipal committee, the DC requested the local government department to release Rs200 million on June 10. Tha amount has not yet been sanctioned.

Last year, after many areas of Hyderabad were left inundated by flash floods, the army was called for assistance, while the incompetence of WASA, HMC and QMC was later challenged in the Sindh High Court.

Delving into the funds

According to WASA, it needs Rs40 million for cleaning 533,550 cubic feet of the nullah starting at Sarfaraz Colony and ending at Tulsi Das pumping station. An equal sum is being demanded to pay wages of 300 labourers, mainly sweepers, to be hired for Rs1,500 per day for three months.

The workforce of around 1,600 regular and work-charge employees of HMC, which includes a considerable amount of sweepers, is not being utilised for this.

"There are hundreds of sweepers employed by the HMC. A majority of them don't turn up for work but still draw their salaries," said an official, who requested anonymity. "If the HMC provided its sweepers for free to WASA for cleaning the nullahs, Rs40.5 million can be saved."

At a meeting with HMC and WASA officials on June 5, Soomro raised the same issue, but was told there were too few sweepers available for the task. He then directed HMC to immediately submit details of their 1,600 employees. The report has still not been submitted 17 days later, the DC told The Express Tribune. HMC mayor Syed Tayyab Hussain did not respond when contacted for comment.

A WASA official, requesting anonymity, claimed sweepers could be hired for Rs1,000 to Rs1,200, pointing out that the rate submitted by the agency appeared exaggerated.

The agency also asked for Rs25.5 million to repair machines and generators, Rs14.85 million for fuel, Rs3 million for mini-trucks, Rs2.25 million each for hiring excavators and jackhammers, Rs1.62 million for dumpers and Rs1 million for lubricants.

"HMC and WASA are supposed to carry out these works throughout the year. But they deliberately delay it because embezzlement is easier in the utilisation of emergency funds than in the tendering process," commented an audit official, claiming that HMC even did not maintain log books for fuel. He added that audit objections to hiring workers despite available employees were not answered adequately.

While HMC did not provide a break-up of funds, QMC wanted Rs16 million to purchase diesel machines and Rs9 million for fuel.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2020.