Crying foul: Lyari residents decry lack of civic amenities

Authorities say sanitary workers have not been paid salaries in three months.

KARACHI: Acute shortage of potable water, overflowing gutters, swarms of mosquitos, choked nullahs, piles of debris, out-of-order street lights, encroachments and a high incidence of street crime have made Lyari virtually unlivable.  

These were some of the issues that were brought to light by residents of Karachi's oldest neighbourhood at a meeting held at the commissioner's office on Wednesday. The meeting was convened to register the residents' complaints regarding civic issues in the neighbourhood.

"Lyari has become famous for drug peddling and gang war but maybe the government has forgotten that it is also home to 3.5 million peaceful citizens," said a resident.

The MNA-elect of the constituency, Shahjehan Baloch, said that a peaceful, hygienic environment was the citizens' basic right and the government must make efforts to resolve the issues. He referred to encroachments at Kalri and Pitcher nullahs that have completely choked the sewage system.

"The extension of Kalri and Pitcher nullahs has been approved but due to some hidden agenda, the tenders of these nullahs still rest under the pile of files," he said.

Speaking about the shortage of water in the vicinity, Baloch said that the tanker and water hydrant mafia had choked the main trunk lines and were openly stealing the water meant for the residents. "Due to these leakages, the sewage water is getting mixed with potable water, which has made it hazardous for the residents' health," he lamented.

"Since 1992, the government has stopped hiring sanitary workers, due to which the area has become a breeding ground of mosquitos and garbage has piled up in every corner of the neighbourhood."

Will such meetings bear fruit?

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation CBA union president Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah believes that such meetings will be futile until the issue of salaries of the Lyari Town employees is resolved.

"Lyari Town's employees have not been paid salaries for the last three months," he said.

Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui agreed that in Keamari town too, there was a serious issue of salaries. "I have personally written a letter to the Sindh government ‘s finance department to resolve the salary crisis in Lyari town," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2015.