Govt says all set for post-Eid clean up in city

Public health engineering minister assures of timely lifting of offal of sacrificial animals

KARACHI:

All preparations have been completed to lift and dispose of animal waste during the three days of Eidul Azha in Karachi, said Sindh Minister for Local Government, Housing, Town Planning, and Public Health Engineering, Saeed Ghani.

The minister was responding to a question by assembly member Fauzia Jamshed during a session of the Sindh Assembly on Friday.

He said that last year, 113,500 tons of waste was lifted from the city during the three days of Eid, including more than 80,000 tons of animal waste. This year, 6,802 vehicles and 24,366 employees will be deployed to lift and dispose of animal waste.

Additionally, 91 collection points and 17 disposal sites have been set up across the city. He said that it is not easy to instantly lift animal waste from every street and house, but the government is making every effort in this regard. He suggested that if animal sacrifices were performed at a single spot in each neighborhood, lifting and disposing of the waste would be easier.

Saeed Ghani lamented that the city's sewage system has been damaged in the past, and rain drains (nullahs) have been used to carry sewage water, but the current government has started working on it and has separated the sewage system Gujjar Nullah, Orangi Nullah, and Mahmoodabad Nullah, with plans for similar work on 45 major drains. He added that under the Karachi Water and Sewerage Improvement Program (KWSSI), a $1.6 billion program is underway, with phase 1 in progress, while phase 2 will start soon. He expressed hope that after these efforts, the city's sewage management problem will be solved.

The minister was responding to a question by assembly member Fauzia Jamshed during a session of the Sindh Assembly. He said that the government is working hard to solve the city's waste management problem and has deployed a large number of vehicles and employees for this purpose. He also said that the government has set up a separate system for lifting and disposing of animal waste and has identified 91 collection points and 17 disposal sites across the city.

MPA Kiran Masood asked the minister about the steps being taken to solve the city's sewage problem, to which the minister replied that the government has started working on the sewage system and has separated it from 45 major drains. He added that under the KWSSI program, a $1.6 billion program is underway, and phase 2 will start soon. He expressed hope that after these efforts, the city's sewage problem will be solved. This separation of nullahs from the sewage system line will help to solve the city's sewage problem permanently.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2024.