Karachi: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal on Sunday said that the desilting work of the major storm drains in the city would be launched from today (August 3) onwards, according to news sources.
The NDMA chairman revealed that the campaign’s objective is to prevent further damage during the upcoming monsoon spells – while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad. He said that three spells have been predicted for the city in the month of August.
Afzal said that the ‘V Corps’ of the Pakistan Army has been called in under the Disaster Management Act and the execution of this cleanliness campaign will be executed in two phases. He elaborated that the city’s problems and said that there are encroachments upon the city’s drains. Also, he added that the stormwater and sewerage drainage system are not separate – causing serious problems. He said that until these infrastructural issues are addressed, long-term planning cannot be initiated.
On Friday, the Sindh government, Pakistani Army and the NDMA had tasked the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to remove sludge from three storm drains and dump the sludge at landfill sites of Jam Chakro and TP-1. Furthermore, steps to remove encroachments from drains are also underway.
Previously, Khan on Sunday signed a summary that enabled the NDMA and the FWO to execute a sanitation drive in Karachi with ‘unlimited funds’ and a long-term role of the military and federal organisations.
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