The Pothole Patrol

Mahood Futehally claims fixing potholes together will give Karachiites the sense of togetherness they need.

KARACHI:

At age 97, Mahood Futehally is a man with a mission. And his mission is fixing potholes.

“Fixing potholes is the most direct and effective way to improve our quality of life. Roads can be made safer and smoother for vehicles and for people who walk to work every day,” he said.

Futehally has a bigger motive behind his quest for a pothole-free Karachi than just smooth rides, he claims if people work on this together it can help bridge ethnic and religious divides in the city.  This is a way of getting to know our neighbours and understanding where they come from, he said.

“People don’t interact with each other,” he bemoaned. “If people take charge of things, they will feel a sense of empowerment.  When they realise their goal is one, they will work together as a single force,” he said, adding “If people mend their own lanes, they will set a precedent for others to follow.”

As simple as the idea may appear to be, it took 20 years for Futehally to perfect the technique of fixing potholes. Finding the necessary ingredient for the mixture was the main reason behind the delay.

The magic ingredient is clay or “chikni mitti” as it is popularly known, is brought from Balochistan and kept in a large, circular receptacle. It is immersed in water to keep it soft, which is the key to moulding it in the shape of a pothole. The cost of materials rarely exceeds Rs 25,000 and transportation is the only expensive part of the project.

Futehally’s first pothole repair drive was a small project, which he funded himself, to repair the road outside the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture around seven years ago. Tired of the potholes outside their school, students volunteered to help Futehally fix them.

A second repair drive was conducted on August 14 this year, this time sponsored by others who shared Futehally’s dream. The event marked the beginning of a social movement that has an increasing number of people signing up as volunteers on Facebook.  “We have now acquired the confidence,” said Futehally, adding “We can easily mend 10 yards in a day, all we need now is manpower – people to come forth to free Karachi of potholes.”

He said that he does not repair potholes on main thoroughfares because municipalities object to it. However, people should fix potholes on their own streets because blaming authorities for inefficiency serves no purpose, he added. “It is you and I who can make a difference.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.