Karachi residents, JI to challenge Nehr-i-Khayyam project in court

Residents of Clifton and Defence in Karachi, joined by Jamaat-e-Islami, plan to approach the Sindh High Court on Friday over the Nehr-i-Khayyam rehabilitation project, seeking protection of the canal's natural waterway and proper drainage so that heavy rain does not flood surrounding neighbourhoods.

The challenge comes with construction reported to be about 80 per cent complete, according to ProPakistani, and with the environmental scrutiny of the scheme already under question.

Both Dawn and ProPakistani reported that the local government department approached the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) for guidance on the project's environmental review on October 26, when construction was already well advanced.

Dawn reported that the move has failed to convince critics. Officials inside the environmental watchdog, the paper said, dismissed it as "eyewash", arguing that a credible and independent assessment cannot be carried out when construction is already at an advanced stage. An aide to the chief minister told Dawn that construction would not stop, but that the government had asked Sepa to examine the scheme in order to address the concerns raised.

Residents fear that concrete structures and changes to the canal's natural width could restrict the flow of rainwater and tidal water, putting nearby homes at risk of flooding, ProPakistani reported.

Rasha Tariq of the Clifton Residents Committee said workers were continuing construction around the clock. She claimed that three drains built along the canal could worsen flooding, and pointed to homes that were flooded last year after one of the drains was constructed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi deputy chief Saifuddin Advocate said the government sought the environmental impact assessment only after residents protested. He maintained that the mandatory assessment should have been prepared before the project was approved and construction began.

The petition is expected to be filed on Friday.