14 May 2023
Case of DHA Sewage Treatment Plants
The hearing of petition about sewage treatment plants (STPs) resumed this week at the Sindh High Court under a two-judge bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. The petition filed by some non-governmental organisations in 2017 against release of untreated effluent and industrial waste into the sea. The Defence Housing Authority informed the SHC that in pursuance of its last order, one of the two DHA`s treatment plants at Golf Club had been inspected by a team of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) and a comprehensive report would be filed on the next hearing. The Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) in its statement stated that the construction work on Lyari interceptor under the Greater Karachi Sewerage Project, commonly known as S-III, is almost completed while repair and extension work on STP-I and STP-II is still in progress, but work on Malir interceptor and STP-IV could not be started due to lack of funds.
The KWSB in its statement submitted that S-III was designed to treat around 500 million gallons per day (MGD) of municipal sewerage as existing sewage disposal system lacked treatment facilities and required conveyance network for the sewage to divert it to the treatment plants which was currently being discharged into the sea untreated. It further stated that the major component of S-III was establishment of STP-IV in Korangi area, near discharge of the Malir river into sea, along with construction of interceptors in Malir and Lyari rivers as well as expansion of STP-I (Site) and STPIII (Mauripur). While adjourning the hearing till May 23, the bench summoned the project director of STPs along with relevant record as the KWSB sought time to file a detailed report about functioning of STPs.
Nilore Heights for Overseas Pakistanis
Nilore Heights is a project for overseas Pakistanis, announced by the the Capital Development Authority`s (CDA). However, the project has faced a setback because of pending litigation, raising a question mark on the balloting for the project slated for May 16. Initially, the CDA was supposed to hold balloting on May 16, but last week, during a meeting which was chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, it was decided that balloting would be held on May 8. But it could not be held this week on due to legal complications. According to a news report balloting would now probably not take place on May 16 either and added that the process will be held after cases were disposed of.
Nilore Heights received an overwhelming response, as 6,000 applications have been submitted by the expatriates against 2,000 apartments in the first phase of the project. Initially the project was launched by CDA in collaboration with Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NPHDA) for the working class. Last year, the NPHDA also held balloting for 200 flats for the same purpose. However, the CDA later decided to take over the entire project and gave it a new name “Nilore Height”, claiming it was built by the CDA from its own funds and on its own land. Overall, the CDA has over 4,000 apartments in this scheme. However, people, who got allotment from NPHDA against flats, filed a number of applications before Federal Ombudsman Office and a petition was also filed before the Islamabad High Court against the proposed sale of apartments to overseas Pakistanis.
Concrete Plant in Residential Neighborhood
A petition was filed last year contending that a park located in North Nazimabad Block L had been encroached upon as the FWO had installed batching plants and dumped other construction material on the premises of the park. The park was well maintained till 2021 as plants, flowers and benches were installed for area people. However, construction works, heavy machineries, building materials and a concrete plant have destroyed the park, while construction activities still continue unabated. Residents of North Nazimabad have complained that and despite the order issued by the Sindh High Court to restrain the Frontier Works Organisation and local administration from occupying the Jafico Ground, the park hasn’t been cleared yet.
Residents of North Nazimabad, have not only been deprived of a recreational and sports facility in their area, but also the operation of a construction site within the premises is against the building rules violation, causing environmental problems for people. Therefore the The Sindh High Court has summoned an official of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) along with a compliance report “as an indulgence and as a last chance” before adjourning this matter to 11th May, 2023.
Rawalpindi Building Bye Laws
The district administration of Rawalpindi has started work on formulating uniform building bylaws in all tehsils and asked the assistant commissioners and other officials to send their suggestions in this regard. Due to different bylaws in the tehsils, haphazard construction has been witnessed in urban areas. As some areas of the district have highrise buildings while in others the construction of more than two storeys is not allowed. Commercial activities in residential areas are also apparently ignored in some parts of the district.
There is a dire need to make uniform bylaws with minor changes keeping in view the geographic requirement of each area. As commercial activities have increased in urban areas but the laws were outdated. The district administration should also see new building bylaws prepared by the Military Lands and Cantonment s for cantonment areas. However, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation maintains it has adopted building laws made by the previous Punjab government for 36 districts with some changes as per local requirements. The Corporation says the same rules would be implemented in all the civic bodies of the district.
