Nasir orders demolition of illegal halls as Rs6.9bn KDA budget approved

The governing body of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has approved budget of the authority for the financial year 2021-22. The budget has been approved under the section 27 of the KDA Order 1957.

The body approved the budget implementation from July 1, 2021, in its meeting held at the Civic Centre on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Sindh Local Government and Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who is also the chairman of the KDA’s governing body.

The budget of the KDA for the financial year 2021-22 amounted to Rs6,918.074 million was approved in the meeting while the revised budget for the year 2020-21 amounting to Rs6,605.805 million was also approved.

Shah said a public housing scheme should be planned under public-private partnership on 20,900 yards of land of the KDA in Surjani Town. He assured of the Sindh government's full cooperation in this regard.

The local government minister asked for the reasons owing to which the KDA's housing schemes were delayed for 15 years but in the private sector, housing schemes were completed in three years and the owners were given possession. He directed the relevant officials to compile the list of the KDA's delayed projects and remove all the problems and obstacles that led to the delays.

The provincial minister ordered that the encroachments on the land of the KDA housing schemes be removed. "If the flats of the KDA are occupied illegally, it shows the negligence of concerned officials of the authority," he remarked.

The minister added that complaints had been received about marriage halls illegally constructed on amenity plots and parks of the KDA and ordered officials to take strict action against those involved such illegal constructions, and demolish all such halls.

He said many people including cricketer Shahid Afridi had requested for adopting playgrounds and in this regard comprehensive proposals should be prepared so that playgrounds could be improved. He said suggestions should also be prepared for beautification of roundabouts of various localities in the city.

School demolition

The deputy commissioner of District East has written to various land-owning and law enforcement agencies for the provision of security and equipment for the removal of a private school situated illegally over the Mehmoodabad Nullah.

The operation, according to the letter, will take place today. The letter says that in compliance with the orders passed by the Supreme Court, action for the removal of Educator School, illegally constructed on the Mehmoodabad storm water drain, will begin on Thursday and continue till the completion of the task.

The KMC anti-encroachment cell director will lead the operation under the overall supervision of the assistant commissioner of Ferozabad. “The assistant commissioner Ferozabad will ensure liaison and coordination among all line departments as well as law enforcement agencies for effective conduct of the operation,” the letter said.

A sufficient contingent of police, Rangers and anti-encroachment force, besides equipment for smooth completion of the task, has been obtained. On Wednesday, the KMC’s anti-encroachment department carried out an operation against illegal constructions in Chanesar Goth, District East, on the second day consecutively.

According to details shared by senior director anti-encroachment Bashir Siddiqui, several shops and their walls on the road and footpaths were destroyed in the operation. Several hen cages, tables and chairs, stoves, gas cylinders of various shops and eateries were also removed. The operation was supervised by deputy director anti-encroachment Amin Lakhani.