KARACHI: Residents of Clifton and environmentalists from across the city staged an awareness walk on Sunday. They were protesting construction at Nehr-i-Khayyam, an open drain in Clifton’s Block 5. Specifically, they warned that covering the waterway would narrow it. In addition, they said it would open the door to commercial activity.
The participants held placards. The placards read “Commercial use of Nehr-i-Khayyam not accepted” and “Stop concreting drains, restore Nehr-i-Khayyam”. Meanwhile, they gathered near the construction site. Moreover, they demanded that work be suspended. In fact, work should stay suspended until an environmental impact assessment is conducted. In addition, the project details should be made public.
The protesters said trees had previously stood on both sides of the drain. However, now the trees remained on only one side. A site visit found construction in progress on one side of the drain. Specifically, two columns had been built there. Half of them were plastered with cement. In addition, T-shaped concrete blocks were lying nearby.
Protesters question the project’s purpose
Rasha Tarek is a protester and member of the Karachi Residents’ Community (District South). She questioned the logic of discharging sewage into the waterway. In fact, she also questioned using its pollution to justify covering more than half of it. In addition, she demanded an environmental impact assessment. Finally, she said residents should be informed about the project.
Masood Lohar is the founder and CEO of the Clifton Urban Forest. He claimed the project had been approved by the Sindh cabinet in 2019 for “recreational purposes”. He also alleged the construction was intended for commercial activity. According to him, the authorities were blocking a major intertidal channel between two creeks. Moreover, he termed the matter a “national security issue”. In fact, he warned that 250mm of rainfall could render the port and important security installations dysfunctional.
Yasir Husain is another environmentalist. He said that under the law every government project should undergo an environmental assessment. He said a one-kilometre stretch of the drain had suddenly been taken up for construction. The stretch runs from Ocean Mall to Boat Basin. Furthermore, he added that he would file a right-to-information request for the project’s details. In addition, he said the protest would continue every weekend.
A demolition precedent from 2005
A parallel account of the protest added a striking detail. Residents recalled a similar construction attempt along the canal in 2005. It was challenged in court and eventually demolished. Protesters alleged that work had resumed in 2019. They questioned whether the Sindh government had obtained the necessary environmental approvals. In addition, they also questioned whether it had consulted residents before work began.
Actor Tipu Sharif is a 25-year resident of the area. He stood alongside the protesters. He warned that the waterway had helped prevent rainwater from accumulating during heavy rainfall. Garbage, he added, could obstruct the flow of rainwater. This could happen if the waterway were covered, blocked or narrowed. As a result, it could create serious problems during the rainy season.
Karachi’s flooding record
The warning carries weight in a city whose drainage system has repeatedly failed during heavy monsoon spells. For example, Feature Pakistan has covered the city’s flooding risks and monsoon preparedness in Sindh. This record makes any narrowing of a storm-water channel a citywide concern. It is not just a neighbourhood one.
It is the latest civic flashpoint in a city. Meanwhile, residents there have also raised the alarm over non-compliant high-rise buildings. They have flagged threats to the city’s mangroves. In addition, they raised cable theft knocking traffic signals offline.
Residents issue formal demands
In a press statement, area residents demanded the suspension of construction. Work should stay suspended until the required environmental assessment is conducted. Approval must also be obtained from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency. They also demanded the disclosure of project documents. These include the design. They want the preservation of the channel’s full original width and banks as open public land. Finally, they want an end to the discharge of untreated sewage into the channel.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nehr-i-Khayyam?
Nehr-i-Khayyam is an open drain in Clifton’s Block 5, Karachi. It runs through a densely built area between Ocean Mall and Boat Basin.
Why are residents protesting?
They fear that covering the drain will narrow it. It would also increase the risk of urban flooding. In addition, it could pave the way for commercial construction on the waterway.
What are the protesters demanding?
The protesters have three demands. Work must be suspended until an environmental impact assessment is conducted. The assessment must be approved by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency. They also want disclosure of project documents. Finally, they want preservation of the channel’s full original width.
