HYDERABAD: The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has declined to undertake desilting work of storm-water drains in the city looked after by Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

Hyderabad Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch, who had decided to entrust the desilting work to FWO for ‘transparency’ this year, told Dawn on Monday that the organisation had “regretted to take up this responsibility in view of its preoccupation in Karachi after recent devastating rains”.

Sindh government had allocated Rs20 million for the desilting and related arrangements and the funds had remained at the disposal of district administration, which would now either be transferred to Wasa or Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), said sources.

The district administration, however, launched the desilting drive through Wasa without waiting for FWO’s arrival and the administration officials supervised the work of clearing main choking points.

The main drains in the city are; Wadhu Wah, Makrani Para, Darya Khan, Latifabad Unit-12, Tulsi Das, Sabzimandi, Pepsi Cola and Fasadi Wah, which pass through various locations of the city.

According to Wasa officials, most choking points in the drains have been cleared and work at some locations is still in progress. Wadhu Wah which passes through Qasimabad had been completely desilted and sewers were being cleared, they said.

Management of storm-water drains has been Wasa’s responsibility since 2016 under a decision of the Sindh local government department. HMC used to take care of uncovered storm-water drains but they were later handed over to Wasa.

The commissioner said the Sindh government would be asked to transfer funds for desilting to HMC or Wasa since FWO’s assistance was no more available for this purpose. Hyderabad deputy commissioner had been asked to take care of desilting as he had already been working on it, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2020