In Karachi, anti-encroachment drive to begin along Gujjar Nullah from Feb 3

CM Murad directs construction of water channel from Saadi Town to Lat Dam

KARACHI:

The Karachi administration is to start an anti-encroachment operation along the Gujjar Nulla from February 3, according to the directives issued by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday. Chairing a meeting of the provincial coordination and implementation committee (PCIC) at the Chief Minister's House, the CM also issued orders for the construction of a water channel from Saadi Town to Lat Dam to protect the area from urban flooding.

"I want to construct another dam on upstream of Lat Dam so that waste and rainwater may be stored there for agricultural purposes apart from recharging the groundwater aquifers of Malir district," said Shah.

Briefing the meeting, Karachi Commissioner Naveed Shaikh said that 3,957 structures along the Gujjar Nulla have been identified for removal. The meeting decided that 12.6 kilometers on either sides of Gujjar Nulla would be cleared so that a road on both sides of the nulla could be constructed for vehicular traffic.

Shah directed the commissioner and Karachi administrator to begin removing soft encroachments from February 3. He further ordered a concentrated anti-encroachment drive February 14 onwards.

Meanwhile, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Shah said that 10 dumpers, four loaders, four excavators, two Jackhammers and 100 manual labourers have been engaged for the operation. He added that the debris would be dumped at Jam Chakro.

The CM also directed Shaikh to provide cheques to the 3,957 people who would be effected by the anti-encroachment drives. An amount of Rs15,000 per household on six-monthly basis, is to be given to the affected people. The amount is to be disbursed through biometric verification of the dislocated occupant.

Besides, the meeting was informed that out of the 7.5 km length of both sides of Mahmoodabad Nulla, seven km have been cleared of encroachment and 500 metres are yet to be cleared.

Under the anti-encroachment drive, 235 units and structures have been removed till date. The CM was told that out of 65 compensation cheques, 45 have been distributed among the affected people and 20 cheques could not be distributed because the concerned affectees were out of the city.

Read More: CJP censures authorities over encroachments

Meanwhile, the meeting decided to develop a separate stormwater drain from Saadi Town to Lat Dam so that the area could be saved from flooding during heavy downpours. The chief minister directed the NED University to study the project and submit their report.

The CM directed the local government and irrigation departments to prepare the feasibility of another dam upstream of Lat dam.

The CM further decided to store wastewater and rainwater in Thado Dam to use it for agricultural purposes. Presently this water is flowing into the sea but it can stored in Thadho Dam noted the CM.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2021.