Residents move court against Nehr-e-Khayyam construction

Protection of canal's natural waterway for effective drainage sought to prevent flooding

KARACHI:

KARACHI

With nearly 80% of the construction work on Nehr-e-Khayyam reportedly completed, residents of Clifton and Defence are preparing to take the Sindh government to court, questioning the project's environmental clearances, engineering design and potential impact on the city's drainage system.

Jamaat-e-Islami and local residents are set to file a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday, seeking protection of the canal's natural waterway and effective drainage arrangements to prevent urban flooding during heavy rainfall.

The move comes amid growing concerns that concrete structures along the canal and restrictions on its natural width could disrupt the flow of rainwater and tidal water, potentially exposing nearby residential areas to flooding.

Residents have also questioned why the Sindh government approached the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for guidance on environmental requirements after construction had substantially progressed.

According to residents, the Local Government Department's project manager wrote to the SEPA director general on October 26, seeking guidance on the environmental approvals required for the project. Details of SEPA's response and the clearances required for the construction have yet to be made public.

Rasha Tariq of the Clifton Residents Committee told The Express Tribune that construction was continuing round the clock despite assurances from the provincial government.

She said three drains had been constructed along the canal, adding that homes had been flooded last year after one of the drains was built. She maintained that the potential impact on drainage should have been assessed before construction began.

Tariq warned that concrete structures could alter the canal's natural configuration and restrict its capacity to carry water. She called for separate pipelines for sewage disposal and urged the authorities to keep the remaining portion of the canal open to preserve its natural drainage function.

Residents have demanded that the government make public the project's approved engineering design, maps, PC-I, total cost, relevant approvals and other technical documents. They also want details of the environmental assessments undertaken before the work began.

The Clifton Neighbourhood Association had earlier written to the chief minister, calling for construction to be halted and the canal's natural condition restored.

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi deputy chief Saifuddin Advocate said that the government sought an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the controversial construction work along Khayyam Canal only after residents staged protests against the project.

He said that the mandatory EIA had not been prepared before the project was approved or construction began, as required by the law.