Baqar orders bridge on Phuleli Canal

The Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has approved the construction of a bridge on Phuleli Canal at the cost of Rs250 million, acknowledging the bridge's need during his visit on Wednesday. The approval was given at meeting held at Government College University, Hyderabad.

The bridge will connect Abdul Sattar Edhi Road on the right bank of the canal to the Government College University on the left bank. The CM ordered the officials to complete all the formalities leading to the approval of the project's PC-I within 15 days. On the second day of his two-day visit to Hyderabad, the CM also visited Liaquat University Hospital, Hatri police station, Qasimabad taluka and Latifabad taluka.

At the meeting, the CM was also briefed about the encroachment and dumping of the solid, municipal and hazardous waste in the Phuleli Canal, which is the largest of the three canals springing from left bank of the Kotri Barrage.

The encroachment has also shrunken the canal's width, also causing a drop in its water taking capacity in addition to weaker embankments which witness overtopping during flood season and torrential rains. Moreover, approximately 200 cusecs of wastewater is released in the canal on a daily basis, causing illness among the people drinking from the canal in parts of Hyderabad and Tando Muhammad Khan districts.

Civil Hospital

While visiting the LUH's old building, the CM witnessed the official neglect which has left the structure in a crumbly condition, with the ceiling plasters showing ruptures and the walls reflecting seepage. Upon inquiry, the chief engineer Buildings department told Baqar that repair and maintenance budget for the hospital of Rs140 million is insufficient to undertake preservation of the pre-partition structure. The CM ordered the release of the required budget for the needed works.

He also checked all the operation theatres and expressed displeasure with the administration over the unhygienic conditions. All the surgeries scheduled for Wednesday were cancelled apparently due to the CM's visit, drawing his ire on the medical superintendent Dr Shahid Junejo.At the hospital's pharmacy no proper record of the medicines purchase was maintained by the concerned officials, prompting the CM to order an inquiry.

Read Sindh CM orders operation to curb street crime in urban centres

He found the toilets filthy. He later reprimanded the district health officer for not inspecting the LUH regularly to identify the shortcomings and problems and to seek resolution of the same. He was briefed that the hospital has a budget of Rs6 billion and that 12,000 to 15,000 patients visit that tertiary healthcare facility every day. He was told that the pathology department conducted around 7,000 lab tests daily.

Hoarding of fertilizers

Meeting a delegation of the farmers' representatives, the CM directed all the deputy commissioners in the province to launch a crackdown against the hoarders of urea and fertilizer. Baqar also asked them to maintain the record of the fertilizer bags which are supplied and sold in a particular district. The issue of separation of Left Bank Outfall Drain from Dhoro Puran, another saline water drain, was also discussed.

While visiting Latifabad, Baqar came across the people who complained against WASA and other civic agencies for poor water supply, drainage and solid waste disposal. The people also complained about poor road conditions in the city.

The CM asked the IG Sindh police to instantly release funds for renovation of Hatri police station whose rickety structure posed threats to the cop and the visitors. The CM also witnessed that the case property vehicles are parked under sun and are exposed to inclement weather. He issued directions for arranging proper parking for such vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2023.