Over 6,000 tonnes garbage removed from Karachi Nullahs: NDMA

KARACHI: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) spokesman has said more than  6,000 tonnes of garbage has been lifted from different nullahs of Karachi as desilting and dredging operation continues in for the third consecutive day in the metropolitan on Wednesday.

In a statement, the spokesman said Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has cleared 25 choked points of three main nullahs from out of a total of 40 such points.

FWO has so far cleared up to 40 percent troubled spots of Gujjar Nullah, 45 percent of Korangi and 51 percent of choked points of Moach Goth nullah. In total three Nullahs have been choked at 40 points, making a smooth flow of water impossible.

There are 552 big and small stormwater drains in Karachi including 38 main ones and cleaning of 22 nullahs had already been started on an emergency basis.

Some 24 excavators, two loaders, 90 dumpers and 224 labors are engaged in the cleansing operation.

Fourteen teams of the FWO are working round the clock at the choke points of the Gujjar, Korangi and Moach Goth stormwater drains. On Monday alone the FWO had lifted 4,364 tonnes of garbage.

Earlier, NDMA Chairman Lt. General Muhammad Afzal said that the authority was tasked to clear encroached nullahs in Karachi and asked the federal and the provincial authorities to sit together to resolve the city’s long-standing issues as temporary measures would only subside them rather than solving them permanently.

Muhammad Afzal said that the NDMA had launched the cleanliness drive in the city and would take measures to minimize the effects from rainfall as compared to the past. He said, “There are chances of another spell of rain in the city from 7th to 9th August”.