Karachi: The rainwater drains can’t be cleaned before start of the monsoon season because the funds issued for it have been found to be insufficient, according to a news report. The Sindh government had approved PKR 1.23 billion for the cleaning of drains and given PKR 500 million to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), while funds were also issued to the District Municipal Corporation (DMC) to carry out the cleaning work. However, the DMC East Chairperson Moeed Anwar said that these funds are insufficient to complete the task.
Talking to media, Anwar said that extensive labour and machinery is needed to clean the nullahs, which also have to be repaired and the funds issued are insufficient to carry out the task.
The Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar stated that on the instructions of the Supreme Court and Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation, the KMC will soon finalise its arrangements for cleaning 36 rainwater drains in the city. In lieu of this, work on four major drains started before Eid. The Supreme Court has given a 30-day deadline for the cleaning of drains and the KMC wants to ensure that the entire drainage system is fully functional within this timeline.
For additional funds, a letter has been sent to the Sindh Government asking for an additional PKR 720 million. The Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation has also directed the provincial government to provide funds to all the DMCs, so that work can be carried out smoothly.
