KARACHI: Over Rs 770 million are required for lifting around 422,000 tonnes of garbage accumulated in 1,668 heaps in different locations of Karachi under old lifting process, committee constituted under Commissioner Karachi has submitted the report to Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh .
Ejaz Ahmad Khan, Commissioner Karachi has recommended that it would be feasible to lift the garbage before awarding the contract for its lifting to the Chinese company.
Masood Alam, senior Director Municipal Services of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) also the Chairman of 9-member Committee informed that report contained survey to access the quantity of garbage, resources mapping besides taking into account the details of old garbage lifting machinery.
Around 399 numbers of garbage lifting machinery (102 minor, 297 major) are required to be repaired. After repair work, about 70 percent of the transportation strength would be enhanced. One District Council and six District Municipal Corporations would be able to lift 9,000 tonnes of garbage on daily basis.
According to report around 12,373 tonnes of garbage is generated on daily basis in the city and only 47 percent of the garbage is lifted every day on average.
After repair of machinery the civic bodies would be able lift more than 70 percent garbage in city daily and backlog of garbage would be completed within three-four months time.
Committee recommended that the Chairmen of all Union Councils, a nominee each from Mayor Karachi, DC and DMCs would be inducted in the monitoring team to look after the matters of lifting garbage.
Committee in its report has written that the removal of 100 percent (1,668 heaps) of garbage backlog would be possible if the required money of Rs 770 million is providedin one go .
Additional funds of Rs 36 million on daily basis are required for lifting day-to-day lifting of garbage, the Committee said.
Around Rs 327 million are immediately needed for the repair of minor and major garbage lifting machinery. Almost Rs 42 million would be needed for up-gradation of two landfill sites.
Currently Rs 137 million is being spent monthly for the lifting of garbage in city and additional funds of Rs 230 million are required per month. 100 percent of its lifting on day to day basis would be made possible in this way.
The report submitted to CM is duly endorsed by MC of DMCs, Chief Officer DC Karachi, Director Local Government and senior Director Municipal Services.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has given responsibility of lifting garbage of district South and East to the Chinese company amounting to Rs 6 billion.
The garbage lifting tenders of district West, Malir and DC have been deferred for the time being on account of entry of other garbage lifting companies in the tender process, informed officials of SSWMB.
District Central and Korangi have negated the privatization of lifting of garbage on the pretext that tender process has not been transparent. Funds should be provided to us in order to lift garbage, chairmen of both districts lamented.
