Performance of civic agencies including municipal committees, HDA etc. is not up to the mark – Commissioner Hyderabad
LG Minister warns Civic Agencies’ officers to improve performance or face action
Hyderabad: The Civic Bodies were held responsible in a meeting on Thursday for Hyderabad’s aggravating issues of sanitation, sewerage, shortage of water supply etc.
Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who presided over the meeting, expressing his dissatisfaction on the overall cleanliness, water supply, drainage other issues of Hyderabad, warned the officers of civic agencies to improve their performance or otherwise stern action will be taken against them and no any negligence will be tolerated in future..
The meeting of Divisional and District Heads of Hyderabad held at Shahbaaz Hall, was attended by Secretary Local Government Syed Najam Shah, Commissioner Hyderabad Muhammad Abbas Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, leaders of ruling PPP Sagheer Ahmed Qureshi, Ali Muhammad Sahito and others were present in the meeting who apprised minister the problems of Hyderabad city, latifabad and Qasimabad.
Nasir Shah said that the issues of Hyderabad were brought in to the knowledge of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto and Chief Minister Sindh by local leaders who complained about the poor performance of civic agencies of Hyderabad. “When, last week, I paid surprise visit of Hyderabad city, Latifabad and Qasimabad, I witnessed poor cleanliness with garbage on roads, encroachments, and issues of water supply and drainage” he added.
Nasir Shah taking serious note of such a situation, ordered concerned agencies and government departments to ensure the supply of properly treated potable water to each and every area of Hyderabad City. He further directed for the early completion of all development projects especially the drainage and sewerage schemes before the coming rainy season to avoid mishaps and warned that officers failing to achieve tasks will not be spared.
PPP leaders Sagheer Ahmed Qureshi and Ali Muhammad Sahito informed the Minister that Hyderabad city, Latifabad and Qasimabad areas are facing huge issues of drainage since long. They urged that if the problems of drainage and sewerage are not tackled on war footing basis, the coming monsoons could be disastrous for the area. They also pointed out that Katchi Abadies are facing shortage of potable water.
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Watch the video of meeting
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Commissioner Hyderabad Muhammad Abbas Baloch told the Minister that last year Sindh government provided Rs.70 Million in emergency thus the task of drainage of rainwater was achieved with the help of Pak Army. He said that the performance of civic agencies including municipal committees, HDA etc. are not up to the mark. He hoped that Solid Waste Management will soon start working in District Hyderabad and Kotri.
Commissioner Hyderabad also pointed out that even the Car wash stations which consume maximum water, have not been brought into tax net. He stressed upon HDA and other agencies to improve performance and complete drainage and sewerage schemes before coming monsoons.
Commissioner suggested for at source deduction of water supply charges from the government departments to help WASA for its financial sustainability and capacity building.
Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro also briefed the Minister on the issues of city in detail and urged that the WASA has to regularize water supply connections and control illegal connections. He further told meeting that drive against encroachments is going on and however it needs to expedite work on schemes before start of monsoon rains.
Secretary Local Government took notice of complaints that the employees of civic agencies are not performing their duties. He also expressed displeasure on the complaints of illegal water supply connections, and poor recovery of dues by WASA, and urged the concerned officers to expedite the regularization of water connections. Secretary ordered the officers to make sure their presence on ground all the time and urged upon DC Hyderabad to check the working of high officers and get him back.
Minister Local Government, on the suggestion of Secretary Local Government, constituted a vigilance committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad which will ensure that the development projects are completed timely maintaining the quality. The committee will also ensure that the employees of civic agencies perform duties and potable water is supplied without any delay.
Head of WASA said in presentation that they are going to enhance 12 MGD filtered water to systems. He told that Load-shedding causes hurdles in supply of water. He urged for the release of additional funds for new ADP schemes of water supply, filter plants and drainage for Hyderabad City, Qasimabad and Latifabad.
HDA head also told the meeting that the Illegal connections of new housing schemes and high-rise buildings need to be regularized along with recovery of dues.
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