KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (R) Maqbool Baqar has said that the inefficiency, corruption, and unwillingness to work have destroyed and defaced the beautiful city of Hyderabad and he warned them [civic agencies] to behave, otherwise he would be ruthless for the sake of this city and its people.

“I know you have played havoc with every civic facility, neither the city is swept properly, nor is the WASA running its sewerage and water supply network – the city is turning into heaps of filth and garbage and soft encroachments are visible here and there but all this mess is unacceptable and intolerable at all and the responsible would face the music,” he said.

This he said while presiding over a meeting with industrialists, traders, and the Chamber of Commerce representatives here at the Commissioner’s Office, Shahbaz Building. The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers – Ishwar Lal and Mubeen Jumani, Rasheed Solangi (Commissioner Hyderabad), the DIG Hyderabad, Ghazanfar Qadri (MD SITE), MD HAD, MD WASA and other relevant officers.

WASA: The CM was told that WASA has a network of 3000 km water supply and 3500 3500 km sewerage network, but the organization is short of staff to look after the entire huge system. The MD WASA said that the old water lines needed to be repaired but they [WASA] were experiencing a severe financial crisis. It was disclosed that WASA had paid salaries up to August 2023 and the remaining salaries were yet to be arranged and released.

To a question, the CM was told that WASA has a staff of 3000 and the total salary of regular and temporary employees and pension come to Rs810 million. To a question, the CM was told that out of 3000 employees, 25per cent mostly remain absent. At this, the CM directed the MD to immediately remove the absentees and inform him.

The CM was told that the total recovery of WASA was Rs60 million, of them 60 per cent of funds were spent on payment of salaries and 40 per cent on repair and maintenance of the network.

The Sindh government provides Rs244 million quarterly to WASA. Minister Local Govt told the Chief Minister that there was a serious issue of ghost and absent employees in the various wings of local government, including WASA. He disclosed that the salaries of the staff and pensions were being computerised to stop pilferages.

The CM directed the WASA to improve its performance and improve its recoveries by developing an efficient recovery system. The MD told the CM that WASA’s recovery was 60 per cent. At this, the CM directed him to study the ways and means and outsource its recoveries.

The CM was told that the SITE Hyderabad has 350 industrial units and WASA has given them 400 connections. The total water bill of WASA comes to Rs3.5 million against which their recovery stands at Rs2 million. At this, the CM directed WASA to disconnect the water connection in case the industrial unit failed to clear its bill in time.

Infrastructure Issue at SITEs: The industrialists said that there were issues with the infrastructure in the industrial estate – SITE Hyderabad and Nooriabad. They suggested setting up another industrial estate in Hyderabad. At this, the CM directed the Coordination Committee working under Commissioner Hyderabad to prepare a scheme for the development of the infrastructure of the SITEs. He added that the Sindh government would bear the expenditures, but the industrialists would have to contribute some amount. The industrialists agreed to the proposal.

Fire tenders: The industrialists told the CM that there was no firefighting system in the city. Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Shoro told the CM that hehas only eight fire tenders and almost all of them were off the road. He added Hyderabad has nine town and each town was in need of at least five fire tenders. At this the CM directed the local government minister to prepare a scheme for the provision of fire tenders. “I’ll try to spare some funds to equip the city with fire tenders,” he said.

City Survey: Another issue discussed in the meeting was the city survey of Latifabad for which the CM assigned the task to the revenue minister. “We are also working on the preparation of master plans for different cities.

The traders also raised concerns about the shortage of police force in Hyderabad. The CM directed DIG Hyderabad Tariq Dharejo to send him his recommendation for additional or required force. He added that the IG Police had told him that 7500 policemen were being recruited and this would help to meet the shortage.

Hyderabad Package: The chief minister was told that a Rs5 billion package for Hyderabad was announced but so far not a single penny has been released. At this, Commissioner Hyderabad said that the package was announced by the federal government. The CM said that he would talk to the federal government, but it was also facing financial issues.

Adoption of public places: The CM urged the industrialists to adopt schools, parks, roundabouts, and other places so that they could pay back to the city which has given them a lot. The businessmen said that they were already contributing to the city but now they would adopt important places in coordination with the commissioner Hyderabad.

Monotechnic Institute

The CM started his two-day visit to Hyderabad with an inspection of Monotechnic Institute, Koshar and ordered a forensic audit of the institute and a comprehensive inquiry into its affairs of running the institute. A high power committee under Commissioner Hyderabad with members from different organizations, including NED would conduct the inquiry.

The Chief Minister also ordered another inquiry against the STEVTA to probe the issues of its functions, utilization of funds, its management system and purchases and their approval. “I am not satisfied with the performance of STEVTA which seems to be failing in its functioning and running the technical institutions working under its administration.

The Chief minister during the visit to Monotecnic Institute found that it has an enrolment of 115 students, including 35 in the first year, 38 Second year and 42 in the Third year but it had 25 per cent attendance.

The workshops of the institute were giving a deserted look and the CM found that no technical training was being imparted. He expressed his displeasure and ordered two different inquiries – the first one against the Institute and the one against the STEVTA.

Badin Bus-stand: The chief minister along with Minister of Local Government Mubin Jumani visited Badin Bus-stand which was being run by private contractors in connivance with the concerned officers of the local government.

The bus stand has 10 acres of land but most of the land has been encroached. The CM directed Commissioner Hyderabad to remove all the encroachments and prepare a scheme for the construction of a beautiful bus stand equipped with all the facilities – a waiting area for men and women, a cafeteria, tuck shops, washrooms, and proper bus channels within the next two months. The scheme would be approved to start the work.

The Bus stand land belongs to HDA and now it would be handed over to the transport department for construction of the bus stand.