Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday approved the inclusion another 674 names in the list of locally displaced people (LDPs) of the anti-encroachment drive launched along three nullas in Karachi.
The chief minister, while chairing a meeting of the Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee (PCIC), also directed to increase the pace of work on the Malir Expressway and the K-IV project, and completion of civil works on Gujjar Nullah by removing bottlenecks.
The Malir Expressway would be an access-controlled facility with a starting point on the right bank of Malir River between Jam Sadiq Bridge and Korangi Crossing Causeway and traveling along the Malir River up to the existing Link Road between N5 and M9 highways.
The Rs27 billion project would provide a new southern route and facilitate thousands of commuters and heavy commercial traffic of the port, Korangi Industrial Area, Landhi Industrial Area, and other such areas going toward upcountry through the National and Superhighways.
It is expected to reduce the commute time from Jam Sadiq Bridge to the Super Highway (M9) to only 25 minutes. With a total length of 38.75km, the expressway would have six interchanges and five weighbridges.
Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon briefed the meeting on the anti-encroachment drive along the three nullas: Mehmoodabad, Gujjar, and Orangi.
He said that due to additional cutting, dangerous buildings, and public grievances, the number of LDPs had been increased from 6,258 to 6,932, a difference of 674 LDPs for the payment of rental support.
The commissioner said that around 200 cases of change of person due to death, and blockage of CNIC were also pending with the deputy commissioners concerned.
The FWO official informed the meeting that dredging, construction of retaining wall, RCC conduit, road works, and other similar works have been completed by over 80 per cent.
He added that the remaining work would be completed as soon as the government releases the remaining funds of around Rs2 billion.
The meeting was informed that the works being carried out by Wapda include the construction of an intake structure for 650 million gallons per day (MGD) at Keenjhar Lake, establishment of a gravity channel of 650 MGD to Keenjhar Pumping Complex, establishment of Keenjhar Pumping Complex with the installation of two pumping stations, each one of 130 MGD, development of pressurised pipeline conveyance with all appurtenant structures (260 MGD) and three reservoirs and filtration plants.
It was pointed out that Rs23.1 billion was released for the ongoing K-IV works which had been utilised and now a fund of Rs45 billion was required to meet the ongoing expenditures.
Irrigation Secretary Sohail Qureshi told the meeting that KW&SB managed the water requirements of the entire city through different sources. He added that Keenjhar Lake was one of the major sources from which about 1,200 cusecs of water was supplied to Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2023.
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