CM tells civic bodies to ‘mend ways’

Directs provincial, federal civic agencies to resolve jurisdiction issues

KARACHI:

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar brought all the civic agencies, provincial as well as federal, to the table and directed them to resolve their jurisdiction issues.

He asked the civic bodies to 'mend their ways' so that the provision of water, cleanliness, fixing of overflowing gutters, repairing of dilapidated roads, streets, footpaths and streetlights could be improved.

"Karachi is one of the largest cities of the world, but our civic agencies have left no stone unturned to deface it," he said and added that the agencies responsible for providing civic services in the city keep fighting on the jurisdiction issue and the condition of the city keep deteriorating day by day which is intolerable," he said

Key attendees included Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Local Government Manzoor Shaikh, Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, and representatives from various agencies such as KDA, LDA, MDA, water board, solid waste management, and others. Justice Baqar criticized the lack of collaboration among these agencies, stating that none of them are effectively working for the city's benefit. He highlighted issues such as dilapidated roads, encroached walkways, water theft, unregulated transport, overflowing gutters, dysfunctional streetlights, and inadequate solid waste management.

In a detailed discussion on specific districts, the District East reported issues with street lights, open manholes, road patching, garbage disposal, pumping station problems, and broken sewerage lines. The incomplete work on the KCR (Old) at 13-D causing traffic problems was also addressed. The Mayor of Karachi mentioned the absence of a sewerage system in Scheme-33 and the need for comprehensive facilities.

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The construction of the Red Line project was noted as causing disruptions, with delays attributed to the ECNEC approval process. Justice Baqar directed efforts to expedite approvals and alleviate issues faced by residents.

Moving on to District West, concerns were raised about the condition of main roads, streets, footpaths, streetlights, manholes, and drainage lines in subdivisions like Manghopir, Mominabad, and Orangi. The solid waste management board's performance was deemed unsatisfactory, prompting the Chief Minister to direct improvement and regular progress reports. Financial issues within towns, including the authority to collect property tax and license fees, were discussed, with Justice Baqar instructing the towns to enhance their financial positions.

The COO of the water board highlighted challenges at the Lyari pumping station due to severe load shedding. The issue with KE sending a hefty bill for uninterrupted power supply was brought to the forefront, leading Justice Baqar to instruct a resolution. In Kiamari, acute water shortages were reported, and the incomplete construction of Manghopir Road was attributed to federal funding issues. The Mayor proposed a solution involving allocating funds to KMC, and Justice Baqar directed relevant authorities to collaborate and resolve the matter.

Responding to water scarcity in Kiamari, the Chief Minister ordered the construction of public water tanks until the water supply system was developed. Notably, he suspended the services of a Town Municipal Commissioner for deliberate absence and ordered the transfer of another for failing to improve conditions in his area. Justice Baqar emphasized the importance of town officials actively addressing public issues and directed inspections by the Secretary Local Government in all towns.

Finally, Justice Baqar urged cooperation between cantonment boards, KMC, and towns to maintain cleanliness. He scheduled a follow-up meeting for the next week to review issues in other districts of Karachi. The comprehensive discussion and directives indicate a concerted effort to address the city's pressing problems and enhance collaboration among civic agencies for the overall betterment of Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2023.