Residents write to CM Murad, urge halt to construction on Karachi's Nehr-i-Khayyam

KARACHI: The Clifton Neighbourhood Association (CNA) on Thursday wrote to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, expressing concerns over construction at Nehr-i-Khayyam and calling for the complete project report, approved engineering drawings, details of the engineering firm and responsible engineers, and the PC-I, including the project scope, cost and approvals, to be made publicly available. Comprising mostly residents of Clifton Block 5, the CNA questioned the Nehr-i-Khayyam rehabilitation plan and demanded an immediate halt to the construction of the concrete box drain, which it described as an encroachment. Speaking to Dawn, Rasha Tarek, one of the residents, said the construction work was being carried out very quickly. “They are working at night, too.

” Earlier, following protests at Nehr-i-Khayyam for two consecutive Sundays by the residents, a meeting with them and project representatives, including a project engineer, a representative of People and Nature Initiative (PANI) and members of Shahid Abdullah’s team, who are a major part of the transformation and rehabilitation at Nehr-i-Khayyam, was convened by the adviser to the CM Syed Najmi Alam at Dr Fareeduddin Sethna Family Park on Wednesday. Clifton Neighbourhood Association seeks disclosure of project documents, an independent drainage study and EIA; demands restoration of waterway to its original width At the meeting, the residents again raised their objections and sought answers from the project representatives. They demanded to see the proposed design of the project, particularly the apparent narrowing of the waterway and the potential implications for stormwater drainage, tidal connectivity, flood risk and the surrounding environment. They expressed dissatisfaction with the incomplete plans…