Right intentions?: After amenity plots, city’s median also up for grabs

Median across Hyderi Market to have a ‘wind room’ promoting alternative energy.

KARACHI:

After exhausting the city’s amenity plots, the wide medians on some of the main thoroughfares in Karachi are being eyed for potential ‘projects’, The Express Tribune learnt.

The district Central administration is raising allegedly unauthorised and illegal constructions over the wide median in front of Hyderi Market on Sher Shah Suri Road - the main road that cuts through North Nazimabad. The idea is to establish a ‘wind room’ on this space to promote alternative energy sources.



If you happen to drive down the road, you will come across brick walls on either side of the median. The residents are, however, unhappy about losing the greenbelt. “The entire green space has been destroyed with the construction of walls and stairs,” complained Muhammad Yousuf, a political activist who also lives in the same area.

He mentioned that the construction started a few weeks ago and it is being carried out very rapidly. “Earlier, there used to be a small park with a nursery selling beautiful plants,” he recalled. “Now, there won’t be any grass or a play area for kids.”

The ongoing constructions are for the project that hopes to create awareness among the people on the need to adopt alternate energy. Under the plan, a wind room comprising small exhibition halls will be built. Modern technology that provides alternate energy will be put on display before the visitors.

This project is a brainchild of a member of the National Assembly Rehan Hashmi, who vehemently defended the project before The Express Tribune. “We are installing the system, which will create energy from three dimensions - hydel, solar and wind,” he explained. “Basically, this is a unique project of its kind to make the people as well as schoolchildren aware of the importance of the alternative energy.”

Encroachment or not?

Why did they encroach upon a green space? Hashmi, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, defended the project by saying that this space was occupied by drug addicts and muggers. “Basically, we have secured the area by establishing an alternative energy park.”

The local administration begs to differ. The officials said that construction on a road median that was supposed to be a greenbelt is illegal but they are reluctant to take action. Karachi Municipal Corporation parks director Tahir Durrani said the rules clearly state that no construction can be allowed inside the island but he excused himself of the responsibility. “Since the Hyderi Market area does not fall under the jurisdiction of the KMC, the district Central officials must be questioned why such illegal constructions were allowed.”

Meanwhile, the district Central administrator, Kamal Mustafa, who is authorised to allow or deny such constructions, agreed that the district municipal corporation granted permission to the MNA to build the project on the island. “The whole project is being developed under DMC rules and regulations while the MNA is helping with the funds,” he said. “The island is DMC Central property but we have neither allotted our land nor leased it to any outsource. It is just an awareness project and will be developed under the bylaws.”

The director of KMC’s anti-encroachment cell, Mazhar Khan, was unaware of the massive construction taking place on the greenbelt. He said he must check what’s going on, when The Express Tribune contacted him. Meanwhile, the administrator, Rauf Akhtar Farooqi, did say that those who are converting the median into a wind energy room are doing the city no favours.

Swinging into action

Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui vowed to stop the illegal construction at all costs, whether or not it is under KMC or DMC jurisdiction.

Similar assurances were also given by local bodies’ minister, Sharjeel Memon. “Despite political influence or involvement of corrupt officials, encroachments in the city will not be tolerated and should be abolished as soon as possible,” he said. “We have already destroyed several marriage halls that were built on amenity plots and will demolish this wind energy room, if found to be illegal.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.