LG representatives shirk ‘dirty work’

The local government representatives of Thatta and Sujjawal have tried to absolve themselves of the most basic municipal function - cleanliness.

The elected representatives of Thatta and Sujawal in a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday proposed handing over the sweeping of streets, lifting of garbage, and cleanliness work of their towns to Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB).

The chief minister in his meeting with the newly elected local bodies' heads of various districts of the Hyderabad division urged them to work hard in resolving the issues of the people of their respective areas so that people feel the difference.

"We have to give ownership to our cities and towns for genuine uplift," he said in a meeting with mayor and deputy mayor of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, chairmen, and vice chairmen of towns of Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Sujawal, and Tando Allahyar districts.

"I have started meetings with the newly elected representatives so that their problems can be discussed and given them direction for developments of their cities and towns," Murad said.

The meeting was attended by Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, Rehana Leghari, Zaheer Pitafi, Dost Ali Jesar, Sadiq Memon, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Mayor Kashif Shoro, and Deputy Mayor Saghir Qureshi and chairmen and vice chairmen of the towns.

CM Murad said that the major issues of cities and towns include water, sanitation, cleanliness, and encroachment, while the issues of the local bodies were ghost employees, double employment, and pension issues. "You have taken over your positions and you have to improve the efficiency of your towns and establish good governance so that the purpose of their tier could be achieved," he said.

He said that the local bodies were passing through the transition phase during which the arrangement of the offices, distribution of resources and employees, and carving out the limits would take place. "But, during the transition phase all the local bodies are functional and you [chairmen and vice chairman] have to work for the people," he said.

Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro discussed the issues of sewerage lines, water problems, and issues of pumping machines. At this, the chief minister urged him to conduct a proper survey of the old sewerage lines so that they could be replaced. As far as the performance of the WASA is concerned, the CM said the mayor has to make it an efficient body.

The elected representatives of Thatta and Sujawal proposed the chief minister hand over the sweeping of streets, lifting of garbage, and cleanliness work of their towns to Sindh Solid Waste Management.

At this, the CM directed Secretary Local Government to make a proposal for extending the services of solid waste management to Thatta and Sujawal for his approval. The CM directed the local government department to arrange offices for the chairmen where they were required. The local bodies' representatives thanked the chief minister for his guidance, and they took selfies with him.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2023.