NDMA says 95 percent Karachi’s storm-water drains cleaned

KARACHI: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said that the cleaning up of the clogged storm-water drains in Karachi will be completed by evening today.

On a social media website Twitter on Friday, the NDMA said that 95 percent of drains have been cleaned in Karachi so far.

The authority further said that approximately 30 thousand tons of sludge has been removed and 40 out of 42 chocking points have been cleared by NDMA and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

#Karachi storm/rain water drains cleaned upto 95% by#FWO under supervision of #NDMA. Task likely to be completed by evening today. Approx 30 K tons of sludge removed and 40 out of 42 chocking points cleared.@pid_gov@appcsocialmedia @PTVNewsOfficial @RadioPakistan pic.twitter.com/Gr6P8J7MXn

— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) August 7, 2020

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan tasked NDMA chairperson to reach Karachi and start a cleanup drive in the aftermath of the monsoon rains.

The PM had signed a summary authorizing NDMA and the FWO to carry out a cleanliness drive in Karachi with unlimited funds.

In a few days’ efforts, more than 15,000 tons of garbage has been removed from the drains, after which the condition of these drains has improved a lot. After which it hoped that the citizens of Karachi will not face the same situation as before in the coming rains.

According to NDMA spokesman, the authority had 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.

According to the official, “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”.