Nehr-e-Khayyam in the line of fire

Activists join Clifton rally; demand construction halt over flood fears

KARACHI:

Opposition to the ongoing Nehr-e-Khayyam project gathered momentum on Sunday as Clifton Block 5 residents were joined by environmental activists, legal professionals and political representatives, demanding an immediate halt to construction until environmental approvals, technical studies and project details are made public.

The protest, part of the residents' continuing Sunday campaign, saw participants rally around concerns that the project could compromise the historic waterway's drainage capacity, increase urban flooding risks and pave the way for encroachment on public land.

The programme began with a Baithak at Karachi Urban Forest, followed by a walk to Nehr-e-Khayyam, where participants observed that construction work was continuing despite mounting objections from the neighbourhood.

Protesters maintained that work should not have commenced before completion of the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), approval from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and relevant technical studies. They demanded that all such documents be disclosed for public scrutiny.

Lawyer and Clifton resident Ahmer Jamil Khan stressed the need to involve local communities in decisions affecting their neighbourhoods. He also discussed possible legal avenues and called for sustainable solutions to Karachi's sewage and wastewater problems, including properly planned treatment plants and effective wastewater management.

Residents Rasha Tarek and Nusrat Khwaja warned that narrowing Nehr-e-Khayyam could undermine its drainage capacity and expose surrounding neighbourhoods to greater flooding risks during heavy rainfall. They called for hydrological assessments and sustainable engineering solutions before any changes to the waterway.

Ahmad Shabbar, representing the Pakistan Maholiyati Tahaffuz Movement (PMTM), expressed solidarity with the residents and said the movement was examining legal options to support their campaign.

Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Opposition in the KMC Taimoor Ahmed raised concerns over alleged plans to encroach upon Nehr-e-Khayyam land through the creation of six flat sites and two multi-storey commercial plots. He claimed that a proposed map was already circulating in the builders' market.

The protesters reiterated their demand for an immediate suspension of construction until all environmental and technical concerns were independently examined, necessary approvals obtained and project details made public.

They stressed that urban development must not come at the expense of public land, essential drainage infrastructure, environmental protection and the safety of surrounding communities.