Thanks to Chief Justice Supreme Court
of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar who took out some space from his tight schedule
and came Karachi to discuss the dated long issue of illegal allotment of lands
& contaminated water supplies in Karachi and rural Sindh in response to a
petition filed by some citizen.
Chief Justice of Pakistan summoned Sindh
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah who is not taking ownership to resolve the
chronic issue of clean drinking water and control on Sea pollution issue.
A three-judge bench however heard the case
related to provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in
cosmopolitan city of Karachi & interior Sindh.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and
former Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal [had been summoned] were also present in the
Karachi Registry of the apex court.
A documentary report was shown them in
the court room that how contaminated water were supplied to people & how feces
were being deliberately released in the drinking water - CJ asked CM Sindh if
he was aware of the situation & he was not providing the people with clean
drinking water.
The CJ however [in convincing tone]
said CM Sindh not to take the case as a hostile approach as he [CM Sindh] was called
with great respect and dignity & he was the one who could take
responsibility to handle it, said CJ – asking CM to find a solution of the
issue, adding that the court was also prepared to assist the government in this
regard………..’’we can offer our shoulder if you want’’ said CJ.
The CJ further said ‘’I wish if Bilawal
has been here he is like my son if he sees the water being provided to the
people of Larkana and other cities’’.
Justice Faisal Arab elucidated ‘’people
elected the government to resolve their issues but turned to the courts only after
seeing failure of the administration’’.
During the hearing the court also asked
the CM to rid the Karachiites of ‘’water tankers mafia'' who has besieged the entire
city in terms of water supplies – if they are getting water what’s wrong with
KW&SB not providing water to its dwellers [living in Karachi], it’s
the same conduit and same water supply sources, said CJ
Mustafa Kamal [who was also summoned
along with CM Sindh] told the court that issues pertained to the provision of
water and drainage are responsibility of the local government [no doubt] but how the local govt is empowered or funded to run cosmopolitan affairs is very much conspicuous to everyone.
Karachi alone needs 1250 million gallons of water [on daily basis] and the K-4 project would also be unable to cater the needs
of the Karachi as its population was likely to exceed 30
million that would further worsen the situation, maintained Mustafa Kemal.
In addition illegal land allotments also came under discussions - In a report
presented by Karachi Development Authority (KDA) before Supreme Court’s Karachi
registry - it was disclosed that thousands of square yards of 35,000 amenity
plots in the metropolis have been taken over through 'china cutting' (illegal
carving) - the court ordered KDA, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, and Deputy
Commissioners to immediately evacuate the occupation of the plots coming under
their mandated domains, and directed the Karachi Development Authority to
cancel such illegal allotments of welfare plots with immediate effect.
The bench however expressed grave concern on the absence
of KDA Director General during the hearing – the Director’s lawyer claimed
that his client is on bed rest due to high blood pressure, the Court remarked
that his [KDA DG]’s health will improve immediately if arrest warrant
against him is issued.
The KDA in its
report claimed that illegal constructions in 27 different areas were bulldozed
by the authority in the last two days.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed demanded
KDA to present details of amenity plots according to the original ‘’master-plan’’
of KARACHI.
Furthermore, it was
revealed that KDA land worth over Rs 1.0 trillion is illegally occupied - sources
said land grabbers sold KDA land in Surjani Town – Korangi - North Karachi - North
Nazimabad - Gulshan Town and Nazimabad.
The sources also
divulged that 12,000 residential and commercial plots were illegally sold at
peanuts prices after cutting them into 80 to 1,000 yard plots.....china cutting madness.
More than 400
acres of KDA land is said to be occupied across the Karachi – most of the lands
were occupied in the past 10 years, the KDA official said.
KDA DG however
shared his line of action with media that heads of relevant department have been
summoned to ascertain the situation on the ground where all attempts will be carried
out to reclaim the lands.
The court expressed that its really
shocking to know that KDA Directors allotted lands to Real estate mafia &
individuals where amenity plots even did not spare and sold out.
Children
park, Recreational halls, Hospital lands, Playground sold out - Children used
to play cricket on weekly holidays but you [KDA Director] are not ashamed
why do not we should put you in jail, said CJ.
Added
more, to evacuate such all illegal allotments and submit report thereof - what a
madness the Service roads & Footpath running alongside roads and space
around Bridges/ Flyovers too had been included in illegal construction - the entire
city you have converted into jungle, scolded the CJ.
Though we are looking the demolition of
illegal Marriage Halls, Banquets those were operational on illegal plots, where
parks also had been sold out to Marriage Halls - now are under demolition but we
are not certain that is it a temporary removal and again will resume construction? said the seasoned employee
of Karachi metropolitan corporation [KMC].
Its
time tested agenda let’s see how sincere & honest KDA Director listened to
CJ and he really removed all such illegal constructions certainly needs to
recheck - a comparison through previous city blue prints and the current status to be detailed so that CJ orders may bring fruits for Karachiites.
Similarly, MD of KW&SB
is also involved selling illegal water connection across metropolitan city
- 80 percent area are still without water - dwellers have been compelled
to buy water from WATER TANKER MAFIA on exorbitant prices and what a mockery that instead to close water hydrant breaking its entire net work in Karachi - their tanker's rate are determined by KW&SB.
Water
Hydrant in Residential area is a big crime, despite SC standing instruction to
MD Water Board to remove all such water tanker running in residential area but no avail, the
criminal holding public office [having conflict of interest] is not paying heed but there is a constant boost & boom in their
illegal business & MD Water Board is in slumber or under his nose such a nasty business grooming and he says he does not know. said a retired lawyer of Supreme court.
The
ignorance of MD Water Board here is vivid – there is ''Water Hydrant'' Opposite
Karachi Race club Safora Chowk – en routing from Safora Chowk to Malir Cantt
Gate # 6.
Tere are City School 4 Branches plus other Schools too are functional on the same road of Malir Cantt gate # 6 where WATER TANKERs running its business - Residents living around are enduring heavy traffic jams due to plying scale of WATER TANKER, really a persistent mental agony for the Residents, debilitated road condition, falling electric poles, breaking green belts, crushing manholes are nauseating.
Parents
while dropping & collecting back their children from schools facing obstacles
while crossing the roads due to severe traffic jams at SAFOR CHOWK as heavy
WATER BOUZERS are parked at both sides of the roads.
In
addition, Residents are deprived off water owing to water hydrant in the area -
though it is coming from the same conduit but due to sucking water and running
their 8 faucets filling WATER TANKERS - the normal supply of
water to the residents goes stopped.
Besides,
the Karachiites & rural area Sind are getting contaminated water poisoned
with hepatitis B & C & severe gastro-intestinal diseases are common and
now Chicken-gonia has erupted in Sindh urban and rural on account of no garbage dumping but leaving it to rot and decompose.
Sanitary
issue also has confined the Karachiites, the blocked & chocked sewerage lines, overflow
& broken sanitary pipe lines have mixed with water supply lines fueling
more epidemic to erupt.
Due
to severe mismanagement in Sind govt & corrupt trends in Institutions where every
heads of department have gone corrupt rather has made the city in animal herds
not suitable to live by human being, said CJ.
Where we appreciate Chief
Justice Supreme Court Pakistan for their personal intervention we request him
to follow the result for the task has been assigned by him to CM Sind &
concerned quarters to get a viable & visible result instead forming
commission & committee & its fabricated results [which CJ has rejected [aggressively] emphasizing for result no paper tiger.
