|
|
|
|
Home
Management
|
LYARI EXPRESSWAY
Lyari Expressway Probe into ‘massive corruption’ demanded
KARACHI: Taj Haider, Central Information Secretary, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has called for a high-level probe into the "massive corruption" being carried out by those involved in the construction of Lyari Expressway.
"Just to hide its ineligibility and corruption, the government has started demolishing the settlements which are not a part of the Lyari river area," said Haider while talking to a big gathering of the Lyari Expressway affectees in Mianwali Colony, here the other day.
He said that in a span of just two years, the city government and the National Highway Authority had spent Rs8 billion on the project having an estimated cost of just Rs3 billion. He demanded review of the project map in line with the directive of the high court.
In a statement read out on the occasion, Ghinva Bhutto, Chairperson of PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, said she fully agreed to launching a "resistance movement" in case the demands of the affectees were not met. She said she would be the first one to face bulldozers.
Central Secretary General of National Workers Party Gen (Retd) Yousuf Masti Khan, leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Maulana Waliullah, Baseer Naveed of Action Committee for Civic Problems, Fareed Ansari of Asif Zardari Release Committee and leaders of PPP-Shaheed Bhutto also addressed the gathering. They declared that they would resist the government moves aimed at demolishing the concrete and leased settlements. (Daily The News, 24/02/04)
Kuwait resumes funding for major projects
ISLAMABAD, Feb
20: The Kuwait Development Fund on Friday broke its five-year
"interlude" in their funding activities in Pakistan by offering
assistance for infrastructure projects in this country. ( Daily Dawn Karachi, 21/02/04)
Lyari Expressway update Eminent politicians, NGOs invoke SHC’s writ jurisdiction
Eleven prominent political leaders and NGOs, while invoking writ jurisdiction of the Sindh High Court against the Lyari Expressway project, have termed it against land acquisition, environment, human rights and settlement laws.
"It is a typical example of intensive planning where a grandiose project is developed ignoring larger contextual realities, where physical results are more important than people and environment and where the megalomania of politicians and fantasy of planners is satisfied," says the petition, filed on behalf of Taj Haider of the Pakistan People’s Party, Sardar Sanaullah Zehir of the National Party, Sardar Abdul Rahim of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Muhammad Amin Khattak of the Awami National Party, Yousaf Masti Khan of the National Workers’ Party, Abdul Kahlique Junejo of the Jiye Sindh Mahaz, Abdul Hayee of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Muhammad Younis of the Urban Resource Centre, Anees Haroon of the Aurat Foundation, Baseer Naveed of the Action Committee for Civic Problems and Arif Hasan of the Oranig Pilot Project. The petition, bearing number 1437 of 2003 is fixed for preliminary hearing before the bench headed by Justice Zahid Kurban Alvi.
It is first petition filed by NGOs jointly. Earlier, the occupants of land on both banks of the river had filed a number of petitions through which they had asserted their individual rights. In this petition the issue has been given a new life purely on human rights basis.
Umer Siyal and Tahira Hasan advocates have submitted that the petitioners are interested in preserving the natural and built environment of the city. They filed the petition on behalf of those who are poor, ignorant, or in an economically disadvantageous position. In order to resolve the traffic congestion problem of 12.5million people of this city, the Karachi Mater Plan (1975-1985) had proposed Northern Bypass and Southern Bypass. Southern Bypass, which envisaged joining of Mai Kolachi bypass to national highway through Defence society, was scrapped when highly powerful segment of the society opposed it on the pretext that the traffic noise on this road would disturb their peaceful living. The Northern Bypass was conceived in 1980 as a much-needed means of linking the Karachi port to Super Highway.
The purpose of this bypass was to redirect all port related traffic, which consisted of 20,000 heavy vehicles per day, to the superhighway. This project remained in files till 1986 when Lyari Expressway was proposed as its alternative. This proposal was strongly opposed by professionals, non-governmental organisations and Lyari community. After public hearings and discussions were held in 1995-96, the then senior provincial minister finally decided to scrap the proposal. In June 2000, however, the federal government decided to build both Northern Bypass and 16.5-kilometre-long Lyari Expressway. The estimated cost of Lyari Expressway is Rs7billion, while analysts believe that the actual cost would be three times the estimated cost.
The original 1995 plan of Lyari Expressway, it has been contended, envisaged widening of the river bed to 200 feet at Soharab Goth with gradual increase to 500 feet near Mauripur and construction of 50 feet roads on both banks which were to pass underneath the existing 12 bridges on the river. This plan, however, has been amended. Now, the bed would be widened to 800 feet and there would be 100-foot-wide roads on both banks, which would run over the existing bridges. Despite repeated requests of the affected people, NGOs, political parties and other concerned individuals and organisations, the amended plan of Lyari Expressway has not been made public.
At present there are approximately 0.2million Katchi Abadi dwellers on both sides of the Lyari River and all of them are being displaced by the respondent, National Highways Authority, which has been assigned the task of constructing the expressway. Besides, about 25,400 houses, 3,600 commercial units, 50 mosques, five churches, eight temples, 10 schools, 38 clinics, one hospital and 66 factories are being demolished to reclaim 1.8 million square yards of land worth Rs20billion to facilitate the construction of the mega project.
The project, in fact, is a humanitarian disaster, as it would render thousands of people homeless and jobless. The residents of this low and middle income colonies, a large number of whom are employed in the city’s recycling industry and as daily wage labours, have since been running from pillar to post, trying to find alternative accommodation for their families because as against the 25,400 houses being demolished, the government is giving Rs50,000 cash and an 80 square yards plot in Hawksbay to only 14,000 affected families.
The work on the project has been started without taking into consideration its environmental impact. According to section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, it is mandatory that before launching such project its environmental impact assessment is smutted to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). No such assessment report was prepared in respect of Lyari Expressway. Besides, the project also runs contrary to the Istanbul Declaration of Human Settlements and the International Human Right Laws to which Pakistan is a signatory. The effect of the demolition and the acquisition of land in violation of law would render a large number of people homeless with no provision for resettlement, or compensation. The state has usurped and confiscated the property of citizens instead of acquiring it thus has been guilty of violating the Constitution. The expressway is not displacing people from the riverbed only. More than 50 per cent of the affected people are those, whose houses and businesses came in alignment of this project. (Daily The News Sunday November 16, 2003-)
Sindh High Court (SHC) orders government to redesign Lyari Expressway
The High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Tuesday 14th October 2003 directed the National Highway Authority (NHA), government of Sindh, and the City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) to review the design of the 16.5 kilometre long Lyari Expressway so as to minimise number of people to be affected by this project.
A bench comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jaferi passed this order while disposing of a number of identical petitions filed by more than 300 affectees of LEW. The writ jurisdiction of the court was originally invoked by more than 700 affectees through about 21 petitions but ten of them were rejected on the grounds the petitioners, more than 250 in number, had no valid lease documents. The bench had observed that these petitioners would be at liberty to accept the package announced by the City Government, Karachi City District, for the rehabilitation of the affectees of this mega-project.
The government had raised objections on the maintainability of the pleas of remaining petitioners, who held lease documents, on the grounds that no lease could be granted in the bed or on the bank of any river as per the law. These leases were granted illegally by some corrupt officials of the defunct KMC against whom legal action had been initiated.
The bench, however, overruled this objection of the respondents and held that holders of these leases were entitled to the price of the land at market rates and in accordance with law.
The court directed the respondent to resolve the dispute with individual petitioners who had raised construction as per approved plans or alternatively pay them prices of their lands as per market rates of the area where the properties to be acquired are located.
The bench observed that a large number of petitioners had already accepted the package offered by the government and vacated their properties and further delay in completion of this vital project would not only increase the burden on the national exchequer but also add to the inconvenience of the public at large.
The court held in its 41-page judgment that the petitioners were entitled to compensation only in respect of the land leased out to them and not on the structures raised over them.
During pendency of these petitions, the government had offered a package to these petitioners. The package said the petitioners who were in possession of genuine leases would be given compensation as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act i.e. according to the market rates of the property. It further said that if the payment made by a lessee against the land in his possession was in access to Rs50,000, the total amount paid by him would be refunded along with an 80 square yards plot.
In the case of multi-storey buildings, each floor would be taken to be individual family unit entitled to receive the same compensation of Rs50,000 plus an 80 square yards plot. However, compensation on multi-storey buildings would be paid on floor basis and to the physical occupants. However, majority of the petitioners had rejected the package after which the court had reserved its judgment which was announced on Tuesday. The bench observed that the project was of national importance which was being constructed in the public interest for which private property could always be acquired under the law. The lands in questions, it is worth mentioning, are located in PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Old Sabzi Mandi, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan-e-Iqbal etc. Advocates Fazal-e-Ghani, Showkat Shaikh, Muhammad Jameel, Ghulam Kadir Jatoi, M Ilyas Khan, Attaullah Khan, and others appeared on behalf of the petitioners. Former Advocate-General (AG), Sindh, Raja Qureshi, Additional AG Sulemen Habibullah, and present AG, Sindh Mansoor Khan, represented the Sindh Government; Syed Jameel Ahmed represented the KDA; Shahid Jameel represented the KBCA and while Manzoor Khan advocate represented the City Government.
(The News, 15/10/03 page 3)
Lyari Expressway Eviction update
Karachi City Government has resummed
the demoltition operation of the settlements aound Lyari river These evictions are part of a larger demolishing operation in which government is planning to bulldoze over 25400 houses units to make way the for one of the most controversial raod project called "Lyari Expressway" . See a photo of current bulldozing operation below;
These forced evictions were started on 21st January 2002. Prior to recent bulldozings 5759 units (including 2384 commercial and 3375 Residential) were bulldozed to make way for this controversial project. The struggle against forced evictions goes on. The communities are strongly opposing these demolitions. Most city planners, architects, NGOs and professionals firmly believe the city does not need this project.
Lyari Expressway likely to head for greater controversy By Zabe Azkar Hussain
KARACHI: The much-criticised project of construction of the Lyari Expressway (LE) can stir up another controversy on the part of some 49 communities who, according to well-informed sources, are prepared to resist the construction without a "sound compensation". Provincial Authorities, the sources said, had noted that the pending cases were causing delay in the construction of the LE. The legal fight on the part of the government, the meeting said should be further expedited and the Advocate- General, Sindh, could play his due role in advancing arguments before the High Court that was hearing all the cases (together). On the other hand, the sources highlighted the fact that political parties (almost all the major ones) had taken up the matter seriously and at a meeting (on May 30) set up a Resistance Committee (RC). The RC, it is learnt, has now fixed June 9 to hold a meeting at the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House, when it would evolve a strategy to fight against the construction of the LE. Baseer Naveed, Taj Haider, Muhammad Hussain Mehnati, Habib Junaidi, Hafiz Taqqi, Ghinwa Bhutto, Sardar Raheem and other leaders of major political parties represent the RC and they are of the firm opinion that the construction would not be allowed by the citizens as their houses would be demolished without any worthwhile compensation. On the other hand, well-informed sources said that the City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, was also being approached by the influential political parties' leaders to review his approach towards the LE Construction. The City Nazim is regarded among the pleaders of the LE Construction. He on various occasions had said that a reasonable compensation amount (Rs 50,000) and a plot (80 square yards) would be given to those who were going to be affected. However, those representing the communities argue that as many as 250,000 people would suffer due to the construction and they all were residing in leased areas. These people hail from well-to-do families and owned big plots, shops, and stores running profitable businesses. In the case of these people, the city government could not justify its action giving small plots and puny sums in the name of compensation. Hence, these people are not allowing the construction and some of them have filed cases. The political parties that set up RC, it is learnt have decided to persuade the Chief Minister of Sindh and the Prime Minister for stopping the construction of LE. The parties have also decided not to talk to the Governor of Sindh, as according to them, he was taking least interest in heeding the grievances of the people who would suffer because of the construction. The sources revealed that the minorities' leaders were also among the critics of the LE construction as some churches and chapels could be demolished for the construction of LE. (N-3, 04/06/03)
Lyari Expressway: Letter to Editor
Chairman, Action Committee for Civic Problems, Karachi (D-06, 09/05/03)
CJ asked to take suo moto notice of LEW irregularities
The Action Committee for Civil Problems (ACCP) has appealed to the Chief Justice Sindh High Court (SHC) to take suo moto notice of the alleged irregularities being committed by government functionaries in respect of Lyari Express Way (LEW).
In a letter to the CJ, the Chairman, ACCP, Baseer Naveed, said that on the initiative of the federal government, the National Highway Authority (NHA) had taken up construction of the LEW and the city district government had been assigned the task of resettlement of the affectees.
Work on the project should have been started after acquisition of the land. Under the land Acquisition Act of 1894 seven steps need to be taken for acquisition of land. The government should first notify the land within prescribed boundaries to be acquired.
Objectives of requisitioning should be fixed and resettlement plan approved. After these steps, the law requires that detailed survey of holdings within the demarcations plans should be conducted and rates of compensation notified.
At the last stage, the law requires the agencies concerned to judiciously dispose of appeals on rates of compensation. "It is with regret that we have to inform you that no such action has been taken by either the city district government or the government of Sindh. Besides, no land has been transferred to NHA for executing the work as yet. The working of NHA on land not owned by it by all canons of law and justice is illegal", the letter adds. In the end, the ACCP has appealed to the CJ to take suo moto notice of these irregularities which were adding to the sufferings of 250,000 affectees of the LEW. (N-02, 09/05/03)
Govt urged to abandon Expressway project
Speakers at a workshop on Friday condemned the Lyari Expressway Project and contested the government's claim that it would ensure future development of the city.
Arif Hasan questioned why priority had been assigned to such an expensive project whereas the city needed funds for more urgent uplift projects.
He argued that in any case of shifting
of the people from the river-bed, an expressway was not required. He said
all that is required is to shift the population living below the
flood-line.
Land allotment in Expressway project questioned
The Action Committee for Civic Problems has said the "survey list" regarding the people affected by the Lyari Expressway Project, also submitted to the UN fact-finding mission, is full of errors and not transparent.
(D-15, 01/05/2003)
Lyari Expressway: human settlement issues By Noman Ahmed
(Dawn, Eco & Bus Review, 28/04/03)
Lyari Expressway be expedited: PM
Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed the federal and provincial authorities of Sindh to remove snags in the Lyari Expressway Project at Karachi, to be completed in June 2004.
Official sources told Dawn here on Tuesday that the prime minister directed the officials concerned to make sure that the Rs5 billion Lyari project was not delayed due to various problems.
One of the major problems was said to be a row over resettlement of displaced persons. The Planning Commission was asked to coordinate with the ministry of finance and the chief minister of Sindh to get the Lyari project completed on time.
However, the sources said the project was not likely to be completed by June next year even though Rs455 million, out of the allocated Rs900 million in the current financial years's Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), had been spent during the first quarter, which constituted 50 per cent of the money set aside.
According to the planning Commission, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has not provided the report on physical progress so far achieved towards completion of the vital project.
The project envisages construction of a 16.5km, two-lane expressway with allied structures.
The Planning Commission has formulated a status of a number of infrastructure projects approved earlier by the government.
About the Karachi Northern Bypass Project, it said that as far as physical progress was concerned, only 1.3km of earthwork had been completed. The completion of the project was due in June 2004. The project aims to construct 62.137km, two-lane bypass road with allied structures. The estimated cost of the project is Rs2.6 billion with no foreign exchange component.
The Planning Commission also said that the expenditure incurred on the Kohat Tunnel and Access Road project up to June 2002 was Rs3.9 billion which was 59 per cent of the total allocation. As against the allocation of Rs1.6 billion in the PSDP 2002-03, Rs125 million have been utilized during the first quarter of the year, which is 8 per cent of the allocation.
The progress on the projects is according to the schedule. About the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, the Planning Commission said the NHA was facing a problem in the encashment of a Rs16.8 billion bank guarantee paid as advance to the contractors. (Daily Dawn, 05/03/03)
Lyari Expressway Resettling old scores
Construction of the Lyari Development Resettlement Project Hawkes Bay is in full swing, where government hopes to establish a participatory community. But residents have their own tales to tell "Bulldozers were destroying the rows of the houses when suddenly I realised that I had left my three-year-old child sleeping inside the room. I dashed in to rescue my child. Luckily we both managed to get out of the room before the roof collapsed," recalls Mehboob, 42. He is now living in his half-constructed house (L-347), allotted to him in Hawkes Bay in exchange of his house at Bakra Peerhi, which was demolished during the Lyari Expressway (LEW) demolition operation last year. Mehboob, who was as gorkan at Mewa Shah Graveyard, has been out of work for the last seven months due to an injured foot. The unfortunate incidence happened while he was rescuing his child. His nine-member family now depends on the eldest child, a 14-year-old boy who works as a labourer. While talking to TNS Mehboob says, "All of my Rs.50,000 compensation money, given by the government to build the house in the 165-acre colony has been consumed. Half of the money has been spent on filling the plot lying in a dry nullah, and the rest on raising this half-constructed boundary wall. And even this was made possible only with the help of a kind neighbour who helped me buy the reti bajri trucks on concessional rates. However, I have been provided bricks to complete the structure following the visit of some higher officials to the area recently." President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the 16.5km LEW project on 27 April 2002 in order to address traffic problems in Karachi. With wide roads, huge water tanks, freshly constructed buildings bearing the signs of school and dispensary and the ongoing construction activity around, the housing scheme--Lyari Development Resettlement Project Hawkes Bay, initiated for the families relocated from a settlement sitting along the sewage channel gives a pleasant look. But the impression fades as soon as one meets the families living there. Saeed Ahmed, an old man who sells sweet supari and toffees at a table stall, moved in to Hawkes Bay (L-299) two months ago. He renovated his house at Akbar Road for the marriage of one of his sons just a few months before the demolition started. But since he has moved here he has been facing problems for his sons have refused to move in with him. His 80 square yard house, which he built after taking a Rs.40,000 loan, is too small to accommodate them all. He has appealed to the government to allot him another plot so that he could bring his family together. Jehanara, a Bengali-speaking woman, is in distress. Some constructor has run away with her money (Rs.35,000) with the promise of constructing her plot (L-164). With an ailing husband and a son to look after, she is looking for help to recover her money. Rahat Bux, popularly known as Buxoo Chacha, has been living in the four-room house (L-217) with his entire family (including three married sons) since August 2002. It costs him Rs.115,000. He has a sad story to tell: "As per the demolition plan, I was entitled to have two plots in lieu of my two houses at Akbar Road, measuring 100-square-yard each, which I bought in 1962 and 1992. But I have been allotted only one plot at Hawks Bay despite reported official statements that 'one plot has been allotted against the affectees' single storey and two same sized plots for a double storey building'. Although I have presented my case to high government officials, but no body seems to be interested in solving my case." Buxoo's wife, Iqbal, says that with four families crammed in a four-room house on an 80-sqr-yard plot, they are facing extreme difficulties. "On one hand, the human cost and environmental impact has not been taken care of by the proponents of LEW project; and on the other, the allotment process lacks transparency. They claimed to have issued plots and compensation checks to 3,500 of 5,000 families but never issued the list of allottees," says Muhammad Younus, director, Urban Resource Centre (URC). The irony of the matter is that some people have not gotten plots despite heir genuine claims, while some have been allotted plots although their claims are fakes. According to the civic planning rule, low-income communities should be rehabilitated closer to the place of their livelihood instead of being pushed outside the city. "And this is the reason why people are selling plots at throwaway prices as they cannot afford to live away from the city," says Younus. Only 200 out of 5,000 affected families have moved in to the Hawkes Bay settlement, while construction work started on about 375 plots. The locality has not been provided with any sewerage line. Each family has dug an eight feet deep pit outside the house that is linked to the toilet with a drainpipe. "A serious environment crisis could arise with the arrival of new families," fears Younus. Besides, there is no power or gas. Electricity meters have been installed without supplying current; therefore, residents have resorted to kunda. But the voltage is too low to run electronic items like washing machine. With no market or shops available in the area, people travel to Maripur, which is the nearest marketplace, to buy grocery and other utilities. Parveen, one of the sisters-in-law of Buxoo, says that her mother used to visit her once a month but now due to long distance--20km from Shershah-it is a cumbersome job for her mother to visit her on a regular basis. There are about 15 Christian families relocated in the colony, but they have not been provided any space for a church. "There is a lot of place for building mosques but not a small plot allocated for building a church," complains Nasim Tahira (L-229), a teenaged daughter of a KMC employee. She had to quit her school due to the long distance after moving here from Shershah, and is now planning to take private board examination. "It's very difficult to pass time with no school friends around. A girl's college should be set up in the colony. My parents invested Rs.80,000 on the construction of this two-room house," says Nasim. "An 80-yard plot requires about 6,500 blocks-Rs.6.50 per block, which puts the construction costs of an 80-square-yard plot with tier-girder roof at about Rs.120,000," says a construction worker. "We know that a house cannot be constructed in an amount of Rs.50,000, but the government cannot take the entire responsibility and the rest of the amount has to be borne by the families themselves. The government is only playing the role of a facilitator," says Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, the project director. Paracha, who has been supervising the rehabilitation project before taking over as its project director on February 7th, informs that committees would be set up for water, sewerage, electricity, education, hospital, mosque, etc. with community people as its members who would look after the problems of their area. These committees will ensure that each family sends its children to school, plants a tree and improves the environment. "This is going to be a purely public participation housing project. Everyone will be involved, which will give them a sense of belonging and responsibility." When his attention was drawn to cases like Buxoo who lost two houses during the demolition operation, he said that if the committee approved his case, he would get it. But he made it clear that no plot would be given against commercial units like factory, godown, warehouse or cattle pen. Ruling out foreign funding for the Rs.2.87bn rehabilitation project Paracha says, "In the next phase the rehabilitation work would start in Taiser Town and later in Baldia Town in the third phase; 3,500 plots will be allotted in Baldia Town and 6,500 in Taisar Town." "14,881 demolitions were reported and 1,871 have been given plots and paid the compensation," he further informs. "About 500 people are living in this settlement and around 50 are visiting daily for constructing their plots. Also, tenders for sewerage line have been floated and the work would start soon. A separate plot would be provided for building a church for Christian families living in the colony." "Take it (the project) as an honest anchorperson and do not kill it at its initial stage as a half-cooked project (through negative reporting)," he advises. (The News on Sundays 16/2/03)
URC presents report on alternative to Lyari Expressway
The Action Committee and Urban Resources Centre (URC) have presented a report on alternative to Lyari Expressway which would minimise human sufferings and cut the cost of the project significantly.
The Chairman, URC,
Arif Hassan, Chairman, Action Committee for Civic Problems, Naveed Basher
and Planing Engineering and Services Consultants, Engineer Muhammad Shoaib
Ismail were addressing a joint Press conference on 29 January at Karachi
Press Club.
They claimed that
with the acceptance of this report, a substantial saving of Rs 2.1 billion
on account of compensation can be achieved, which otherwise, the
government will have to pay. This saving is in addition to the saving
of Rs 1.0 billion on account of reinforced earth using indigenous
technology, thus making a total saving of Rs 3.1 billion, they added. Our
alternative design will result in saving at the same time, the human
sufferings will be minimised. The flow improves with bed improvement and all sections provide adequate flow depth with 3 ft to 4 ft free board except for Dhobi Ghat Meva Shah Bridge. Area between Old Golimar, Dhobi Ghat and Meva Shah Bridges besides number of Katchi Abadis and illegal humanist are century old habitations like Hassan Aulia Village, Muslimabad, leased out Katchi Abadis. Majorities of these habitats are pucca construction with RCC, Columns and slabs and majorities of them are two storeyed and three storeyed construction, remarked Naveed. He said: residents of these locations who are living in these, will not allow smooth construction of the expressway if all of them will be disturbed. The one proposed by National Highway Authority (NHA) cannot be achieved on ground within the desired construction period as disposal of cases, litigation, further litigation, agitation, etc., will continue. Besides the compensation, which will have to be paid to the residents will colossal that the project will not be implemented because of cost over run. In order to achieve the objective of Lyari Expressway construction with flood control of Lyari River, the Lyari River has to have vertical banks with reinforced earth.
The cost of these works can be met with savings, which may be obtained by intelligent value engineering of the total project. The cost of raising these bridges in the overall cost is so small that it is not even worth consideration. In this study, we have proposed ertical banks in the inside of the Lyari River. The cost of vertical banks will not be extra burden on public exchequer as will be explained in the following lines. In the Lyari Expressway there are 12 + 12 bridges, which will be flying over the existing bridges. The height of these flies over will be about 8m above the existing bridges. Considering that the approaches are provided with a slope of four per cent. The resulting length of approaches on each side of the bridge will be 200 meters or 400 meters on each bridge, said Engineer Muhammad Shoaib Ismail.
He said: Twelve approaches will provide 12 x 0.400 + 12 x 0.02 = 5.04 km. In these approaches consultants have provided reinforced earth. In addition they have provided reinforced earth for embankments 2.7 metres high above road level. The present design of the consultants already accounts for about 6.00 to 7.00 km of vertical face in shape of reinforced earth embankment. Introduction of imported reinforce earth technology is at least Rs 1.00 billion more costly than similar technology with indigenous methods. In addition value- gineering analysis for design of bridges will yield further saving.
Arif Hassan said:
the cost of providing about 7.00 to 8.00 km canal wall lining in the
inside of the Lyari River will be at half the cost of the saving likely to
accrue. Hence implementation of the proposal alternative of Lyari
Expressway will not cost any extra burden on public exchequer. He said
that this proposal would minimise the compensation cost. Our survey
indicates compensation to about 25,000 families. In our proposal the
compensation will be limited to a
He said: the adjacent areas of the Lyari Corridor have immense problems. They are the most congested areas of Karachi and are a major cause for Karachi’s environmental degradation. The Lyari Expressway will not improve the conditions in these areas but may aggravate them further. The Lyari Expressway’s visual impact on the city is being seriously questioned by architects and needs to be subjected to an environmental impact analysis. Karachi’s traffic and related problems can be solved through more appropriate and cost effective means than the building of the Lyari Expressway. There are rational alternatives which overcome many of the problems that the building of the Lyari Expressway is creating for the people of the Lyari Corridor in particular and the city in general. The URC is of the opinion that work on the Expressway should be stopped and a consultation on the above concerns should be initiated said Arif. (The nation 30/01/03)
Housing Crisis Living in the danger zone
On the cold morning of 19th January, while the occupants of a hutment near Urdu Science College on University Road were in deep slumber, a fire broke in their shantytown. Before they could wake up, flames started leaping towards the huts within a few minutes. The poor residents of the settlement ran out of the huts for safety. The fire was so fierce that they could hardly save their lives, leaving all their valuables to the mercy of cruel flames.
Before the fire brigade reached the site, the damage had already been done. More than seven huts were completely burnt rendering over a dozen families homeless. "It may seem a minor incident to you but I have lost all what I had," said Mohammad Sadique, one of the affectees, pointing to what literally seemed ashes at the place that was home to a family of six only a day earlier. "We had small items like a cot, old cooking pots and other such items, but all are gone now."
"The girl was completely burnt in a sitting position and died before reaching to hospital," said Dr. Warasat, a medico legal officer (MLO) at Abassi Shaheed Hospital. "In hut fire cases, bodies of victims are already 80 to 90% burnt; hence, there are less chances to save them," he added. Family members told that the girl hid herself under a cot so they could not spot her while saving their own lives. About fifty huts were gutted completely before a fire brigade could control the fire after two hours' struggle.
"Hut fire is no less than petrol fire; it takes only three minutes to spread all over," commented Taufique Ahmed, station fire officer (SO) at Nazimabad Fire Brigade Station. "We try to reach the spot as soon as possible after receiving the alert, but in most hut fire cases the damage has already been done before we reach the spot," he added.
Besides natural reasons and carelessness, there are other reasons too for fire incidents, particularly in case of huts set up on vacant plots. "There is always the possibility of involvement of land Mafia in such incidents," commented Mohammad Younis, director of URC. "Often the land Mafia uses fire as the last resort to get a piece of land if they fail by other means. For me, it is also a form of forced eviction, which is illegal, immoral, and inhuman," he asserted.
Anwar Kazmi, 70, one of the most senior social workers with Edhi Foundation, who also visited the site of the recent hut fire in F. B. Area, is also skeptical about the causes of fire. "I can't say with surety, but it seems that there was a conspiracy behind this incident," he said while taking to TNS. "We usually provide the victims with relief goods and don't go into investigations, but we also cannot overrule the possibility of conspiracy by the land Mafia in this case."
Interestingly, despite the death of a small girl, the police have not lodged any FIR. "There was no evidence of the involvement of anyone, and even the affectees did not insist; so why should we register an FIR?" replied the duty officer over phone, when asked to comment.
Besides State land, according to sources in real estate business, there are about 200,000 plots lying vacant for years in the city, as owners are waiting to get a good price for their plots. In many instances, these homeless people--particularly hailing from deserted and drought-hit Saraiki belt in the Punjab--set up their huts on such vacant plots.
Initially, the caretakers or watchmen of vacant plots allow them to set up homes after charging money; but once the occupants have lived there for a few years, they refuse to vacate the land.
Often, in a bid to avoid court procedures, their homes are set on fire to terrorise them. "In my opinion, in most cases land Mafia is involved," commented Dr. Warasat on the basis of his first-hand experiences at the hospital. "From their first expressions, it seems their huts have been set intentionally on fire. But they are too poor to protest."
He believes that these poor people end up as victims of fights between two groups of land grabbers. "In case one group settles them on a vacant plot or on a piece of State land, the other group sets their homes on fire in a bid to vacate it," he commented.
Besides, the occupants of hutments, residents of all squatter settlements commonly known as katchi abaadis are more prone to disasters. Of 323 fire incidents reported in the jurisdiction of Nazimabad Fire Station in the year 2002, 80% occurred in katchi abaadis.
"We have hardly ever heard any news regarding compensation for the victims of katchi abaadis," commented Younus. "Even in case of hut fires, you will never ever find any government agency offering to help them on humanitarian grounds," he lamented.
Such fire incidents make lives of the affectees miserable, because they are extremely poor and lose whatever they have. At the same time, in case of injury the victim has to go through further pain and suffering because of expensive treatment. No body comes to help them except the Edhi Foundation, which also provides them with immediate relief.
Losses, due to any kind of disaster including fire incidents, are manifold more in katchi abaadis than in pakki abaadis. "In case of concrete structures, fire is confined to one room and it also takes time to spread; whereas in katchi abaadis it spreads quickly," added SO Ahmed. The fire brigade also takes more time to reach to katchi abaadis than pakki abaadis.
According to the estimates of URC, one million people live in dangerous zones in Karachi, which include residents living near high-tension electric wires, open drains, railway tracks, at the slope of hills and other such places. "All such residents need to be taken care of," said Zahid Farooque, a social co-ordinator at URC. "These people are always under threat. Providing housing to the people is government's responsibility, and if government cannot fulfill its responsibility, then people will find their own ways."
Interestingly, the Katchi Abaadi Act 1987 as well as Katchi Abaadi Policy announced by General Musharaf in August 2000 promised to provide alternative settlements to the residents of dangerous zones. But no concrete and practical measures have been taken in this regard.
"Whenever government tries to relocate them, instead of co-operating, they resort to protests," noted Aslam Pathan, director Sindh Katchi Abaadi Authority. "You saw what happened in many cases; people were living in the danger zone, but when government tried to relocate them they started protesting.
"The residents of these areas are not willing to move. There is a need to make them aware of the implications of living dangerously," he added.
"Although it is mentioned in the Katchi Abaadi Act that there will be a space for the passage of ambulances or fire brigade in case of emergency in katchi abaadis, but people have hardly left streets comfortable for pedestrians let alone a passage for vehicles," pointed out Pathan. "Katchi Abaadi Authority doesn't have any crisis management or disaster-dealing plan. Our work is simply regularising the dwellings, which were already in place before 1985."
But according to the URC director, the process of regularisation is very slow. "It will take them 70 years to regularise the existing katchi abaadis," argued Younus.
"The only solution to avoid disasters as well as to provide people with housing is to regularise the katchi abaadis. These settlements must be officially recognised as alternate settlements," he added.
Pakistan is signatory to UN conventions on housing and the latest UN Convention on Housing Rights "Habitat II", according to which governments must regularise existing settlements (katchi abaadis) if they cannot provide proper housing.
Massive relocation for LEW avoidable
A group of town planners and consultants has come out with a proposal, aimed at amending the design of the Lyari Expressway project, claiming that if incorporated, it would not only save Rs2.1 billion but also help save almost 20,000 families from being relocated.
The proposal, already submitted to the relevant officials of the city, provincial and federal governments as well as other concerned, was explained by the spokesman of the group, Mohammad Shoaib Ismail, at a news conference at the local press club on Wednesday. He was accompanied by a town planner, Arif Hasan.
Under the original plan, the spokesman said, the government would have to pay compensation to about 25,000 families on account of an alternative residence and rehabilitation cost in cash. However, the new proposal would bring down the number of the affected families to between 3,000 and 4,000, he said adding that the compensation amount would ultimately be reduced by Rs1.2 billion.
He said that the proposal also provided for further saving of one billion rupees through the use of alternative earth reinforcement technology.
The consultants have proposed that the Lyari River should have vertical banks with reinforced earth. The have suggested that the width of the river's course be narrowed down and slope modified maintaining the available depth at certain critical sections except Dhobi Ghaat and Mewa Shah points.
Mr Ismail said that the bridges at Dhobi Ghaat and Mewa Shah should be raised by lifting the deck slab. This, he pointed out, would incur no excessive expense. He cited the example of about six to seven kilometres of vertical face in the shape of reinforced earth embankment as shown in the NHA project.
The consultants' spokesman, giving more details of the new proposal, said that in place of the imported reinforced-earth technology for embankments, a similar indigenous technology could be used to save a great deal of amount.
He insisted that the cost of building vertical banks would in no way be a burden on public exchecqure.
Replying to the newsmen's questions, Mr Ismail said that he favoured the Expressway project for it would also prove to be a barrier to prevent floods from causing any big loss of life and property. (Daily Dawn 30/1/03)
Experts propose modifications to Lyari Expressway
Technical experts associated with the Action Committee for Civic Problems (ACCP), Karachi, have dispatched the altered plan and relevant recommendations regarding Lyari Expressway to President Pervez Musharraf.
Related details of the proposed modifications in the scheme estimated to save Rs3.1 billion of the national exchequer have also been sent to Sindh Governor as well as all parliamentarians belonging to different political parties.
ACCP, which held its meeting at Hasan Auliya Village shared information with the affectees of the Lyari Expressway Project deciding to hold a press conference in this context at Karachi Press Club.
The press conference would be addressed by known town planner Arif Hasan, consultant engineer Shoaib Ismail and chairman ACCP Naved Baseer wherein they would disclose the details of the proposed alterations.
Meanwhile, speakers addressing the meeting demanded of the government and all political parties to ensure that the construction of the expressway be done in accordance to proposed alterations in the project.
They also asked
for constitution of a committee comprising members of Sindh Assembly to
make sure that the project was completed in the larger interests of the
affectees without causing them unnecessary inconvenience.
Lyari Expressway effectees at age rally
A large number of protesters including the expressway affectees, political leaders and social workers attended the demo. They shouted slogans like "Lyari Expressway not accepted", "Home or death", "Down with National Highway Authority".
The provincial parliamentary leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Maulana Umar Sadiq has announced that the MMA would table a motion against the construction of Lyari Expressway in the Sindh Assembly session.
He was addressing a demonstration held, under the aegis of Action Committee for Civic Problems, outside Press Club on Monday to protest against the demolition of residential and commercial units for expressway.
Umar said that the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, a component of MMA, would never allow the government to demolish localities of the poor, terating that such moves would be strongly resisted at the assembly floor.
The Chairman Committee, Basir Naveed announced that black flags would be hoisted along the Lyari Riverbed from Dec 31. "The city government and National Highway Authority violated the actual plan and carried out another widening of 2,250 feet in the riverbed, which would cause demolition of 65,000 extra leased residential and commercial units, affecting 400,000 persons," he added.
The JUI leaders Qari Usman Sher and Hajfiz Muhammad Naeem, and others including Tariq Aziz Lahoot, Maaroof Sultan and Perveen Saeed also spoke, said a press release of Action Committee for Civic Problems. (The News 31/12/02)
Residents demo against Demolitions of Houses
The affected people have stopped an demolition operation at Lyari Expressway Project site on Thursday 12 December in Madina Colony areas.
As many as 300
plots have been allotted to the irrelevant people (fake), which were
issued by the City Government and the genuine people were deprived of
their basic rights, remarked Bashir Naveed, Chairman, Action Committee for
Civic Problems. He said that the genuine people also approached the
concerned officials and told them about the fake names, but they did not
pay any attention in this regard. It was not a right decision, which was
taken by the City Government to use force against the citizens, he added.He said that several plots have been allotted against fake names by the City Government. The concerned officials were not aware about the problems of the affected people, he added.
According to estimates of the Urban Resources Center (URC), the figures were 25,400 houses and 3,600 businesses. These are enormous dislocations of livelihoods, homes and children education. The association estimates that over 200,000 people will be affected. The majority of the people who are being affected either work within the corridor in garbage collection and sorting or in the neighbouring settlements as day-wage labourer.
It is officially learnt here that the Lyari Expressway, a project worth Rs. 5 billion 17 kilometer long expressway includes in its design, four interchanges and 16 flyovers. The Expressway is designed to catering for 34,000 vehicles per day, initially. (The Nation 13/12/02)
Sindh High Court seeks explanation on Lyari Expressway
A division bench of the Sindh High Court asked the provincial government and the city government on Monday to explain on Nov 25 the extent of their liability in respect of the private property, including houses and residential plots, acquired for the construction of the Lyari Expressway.
The bench, which
consisted of Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Syed Ali Aslam Jafri,
heard 33 identical petitions against acquisition of residential plots for
the expressway project. Eleven of
They had long been in possession of the property but without any legal title. The court observed that they had better accept the government's offer of an 80-square yard plot and Rs 50,000 in cash in lieu of their occupancy rights, and disposed of their petitions.
Twenty-two petitioners submitted documents to show that they were old KMC leaseholders and could not be deprived of their rights by the provincial government. In order to ascertain whether the city government had taken any action as successor to the KMC, the court asked the counsel for both the city and provincial governments to appear on Nov 25 to clarify the position of their respective clients. (Daily Dawn 19/11/02 )
Lyari Expressway EMPTY PROMISES
The NHA for its part maintains that most of the people affected were in danger of being washed away by floods. This argument is flawed on two counts. Firstly, for there to be floods there has to be water and as most people know there is barely enough water in Karachi to take an adequate bath leave alone to drown in.,...Secondly a large number of the houses marked to be demolished are no where near the water line.. see detials below an investigated news article written by Syed Shoaib Hasan for Herald Magazine......................
Rehman died a painful death. The lively 14-years old was killed when a wall fell on him as his family was vacating their home from which they had been evicted to make way for the Lyari Expressway project. "They [the police and city officials] came on July 9 to warn us that demolition would start the next day," says Rehman's father Umer Daraz. After a heated discussion with residents and shopkeepers the local union council nazim (head), Ahmed Ganchi, assured the people that there would be no further action for at least 15 to 20 days. However, the next day the nazim himself return with heavy police escort told the residents and shopkeepers to vacate the premises immediately. "It was around 11 a.m. that the nazim came and told us that we had two hours to get out and after that they would start the demolition," says Khalid, a shopkeeper. The entire locality was thrown into disarray and everybody hastened to get out with what they could.
Some government officials may argue that the demolition was inevitable given that the project had been in the pipeline for years. But this, at best, is an overly simplistic take on the matter. The Lyari Expressway project began in 1989 when it was initially proposed as an alternative tot he Northern Bypass, a six-lane divided carriageway that would link the port areas to the Super Highway and allow all port related traffic to be routed away from the city. "With the bypass now being built there is no infrastructural need to build an expressway," says Arif Hasan, a leading architect in Karachi and head of the Orangi Pilot Project. The bypass itself will be sufficient for the needs of port related traffic. But more than need, it is the design of the expressway that is the major bone of contention between the various parties involved. "The original plan," says Arif Hasan "called for a span of 350 feet, while the current one is to be 1,000 feet, which means that a lot more people will be affected by the demolition."
Arif is not alone in his criticism of the project. Mohammad Younus, director of the Urban Resource Centre, a local NGO which has for a long time been active in the affected areas, is extremely critical of the way this project has been handled. Younus says that all discussions on the planning and design of the project are a "bilateral process between the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the city government." Mr. Baseer Naveed, of the highly vocal Action Committee for Civic Problems, says that the NHA has not even bothered to compile a list of people affected by the demolition campaign nor has it conducted a survey of the area to get an idea of the number of people involved. Official figures from the NHA list 15,000 housing units and around 80,000 people. Mr. Naveed scoffs at these figures and says that the housing units are in excess of 35,000 and involve over 250,000 people. However, a survey carried out by the Lyari Nadi Welfare Association reveals that as many as 25,000 housing units and 200,000 people may be affected by the exercise.
Rahat Buksh is just one of those 200,000 affected by this project. He was a resident of Shershah-Akbar road until he, along with 3,500 other residents from his locality, were first rendered homeless to make way for the Lyari Expressway and later relocated to Hawksbay. Rahat Buksh is a grizzled old man, but with a sparkle in his eye that makes him look unusually vibrant. He says locality 'Zabardasti Colony'{forced to live}. "The NHA people came on the night of June 27 and, using a loudspeaker, announced that the eviction process would start the next day," adding that he was not home at the time of the announcement. "When I came back in the morning, everybody in the house was afraid and crying. We had nowhere else to go." Despite personal assurances by the city nazim Naimatullah Khan and the DCO Shafiqueur Rehman Paracha that the area would be surveyed and marked prior to the demolition of houses and that residents would be allowed sufficient time to evacuate, the situation on the ground was a far from what the officials had promised. According to Rahat, the NHA returned early on June 28 and started demolishing houses, "We had no time to collect our belongings and lost half our household and other valuables," says Rahat Buksh. For the next 10 days he, along with his family and most of the other evicted residents, lived on the rubble of their former homes. This was despite earlier assurances that the evictees would be immediately repatriated to the land allocated for them in Hawksbay. According to Rahat Baksh and most of the other evictees, the union council nazim, Shabbir Ahmed, is directly responsible for the majority of their problems. The authorities, it seems, were not too interested in relocating the people, though they had been extraordinarily quick and efficient in evicting them. However, Rahat Buksh and other like him were still better off than some of the other residents who were literally left homeless.
Noor Jehan is a middle-aged former residents of Shershah-Akbar road who recounts her tale of grief very eloquently. She was denied compensation for eviction by the city government on the grounds that her residence was listed as a 'factory' in the lease papers. She was not the only person adversely effected. When the relocation process started she, along with a large number of evictees, were denied any sort of compensation. According to the rules of compensation established by the government, buildings registered as commercial establishments can not qualify for aid. Noor Jehan, however, did not take this action lying down. "I was able to talk to Naimatullah at that time and he assured me that he would look into the matter. He sent two men to conduct an inquiry and they confirmed the fact that my house qualified as a residence, but no compensation was given." Noor Jehan says that over a month has passed and so far the issue has still not been resolved. Two more inquiries were conducted by the city government, and each confirmed the initial inquiry's findings. Noor Jehan at least has some chance of getting compensation however small it may be. The people who owned and operated shops or small factories in the area have no such recourse.
The NHA for its part maintains that most of the people affected were in danger of being washed away by floods. This argument is flawed on two counts. Firstly, for there to be floods there has to be water and as most people know there is barely enough water in Karachi to take an adequate bath, leave alone to drown in. In fact, this same area of the Lyari corridor has been completely without adequate water supply for several years. In addition, Sindh has been facing an acute water shortage for the past few years and this has assumed crisis proportions of late. So nothing short of a miracle is likely to produce much water in the river, let alone a flood. Secondly a large number of the houses marked to be demolished are no where near the water line. "The NHA officials have been indiscriminately marking down houses for demolition," says Imran Sikandar of the URC. He relates one case in P.I.B Colony where the houses marked down were not even in sight ofthe river. Another major complaint against the NHA is that is only recognises leases issued by the defunct KMC. However, according to Baseer Naveed, there are three other types of leases namely those issued by the revenue department, the cooperative societies and the katchi abadis association. These are just as valid and legally binging as the KMC leases. The NHA continues to ignore this and the city government for its part has rubber-stamped all is actions.
The government's attitude of indifference to these matters is tragic and compounds further the manifold hardships already being suffered by the affected people. Hamid Ahmed operated a small general store in the front end of his house on Shershah-Akbar road until the NHA and city government evicted him . His residence was listed as 'shop and house' by the authorities and he was denied any sort of compensation. "There are no jobs and one has to make do with what is available," he says. Hamid is very angry and bitter about teh disbursement of compensation which, he says, "is based on a policy of discrimination". He explains that those people who were able to offer bribes or had contacts or falsified documents, he received compensation, while a vast majority of the people had been left out in the cold. Hamid says that he was approached by several people at the municipal offices who offered to get the matter resolved in exchange for a bribe. Hamid wants nothing to do with this. "Why should I have to pay for something that is my right." He is also extremely angry with the government. "The law states that people have to be given adequate housing prior to eviction. It was the government who evicted us without doing a proper survey or providing us with any housing or facilities. Why should we be made to pay for the government's mistakes?"
"This is sheer injustice," says Tariq Aziz Hoat. "They have no right to take away our homes from us." Hoat is the president of the Hasan Aulia Village association. The village is one of the oldest settlements in the city according to local NGOs. It dates back nearly 300 years and consists of nearly 7,000 homes on leased land. It also includes a mosque which, according to locals, was built in 1890. All this is under threat as the designers of the expressway. This is despite the fact that both the village and neighbouring Niazi Colony for demolition on the pretext that they are situated directly in the path of the expressway. This is despite the fact that both the village and the a colony are at a distance of over 200 feet from the river banks. If the expressway follows the river it does not come close to the settlements. In all, the Lyari Expressway project is expected to affect settlements and residents in F.B. Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad, Karimabad, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Lasbella and P.I.B Colony in addition to the Lyari corridor.
Meanwhile, life in the new settlement at Hawksbay has presented additional problems for an already traumatised people. There is no water, gas, electricity or sewage system in the vicinity.
According to Rahat Buksh, they have to pay for a tanker to come three times a week for each house and each trip costs an almost unaffordable 500 rupees. While Rahat Buksh and his three sons, who are all employed, can scrape through, most of the other residents cannot. The government, heedless of the needs of the people, is hell-bent on going ahead with the project in spite of both local and international opposition. Despite growing international condemnation, including a strongly worded letter of protest from the UN calling for an end to the eviction, the government has proceeded with impunity. On April 27, General Musharraf performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the six-billion-rupee project. While most people question the viability of such a project, especially when faced with the simultaneous construction of the Northern Bypass, the president is quite clear about the government's intentions.
According to the president, the Northern Bypass will carry the entire load of heavy traffic from the ports to the rest of the country. Since the routes will skirt around Karachi, the roads of the metropolis will be saved from excessive wear and tear. But what then of the Lyari Expressway? According to the president, the redundant expressway will "add to the beauty of the city". One such example of federal aesthetic vision is already present in the city in the form of the university road flyover. In the federation of Pakistan, federal decrees are the word of God to the provincials and Karachi is starting to pay the price for an experiment which may prove as dangerous as it is costly. Rehman was the first casualty in the highly controversial Lyari Expressway project and, if the actions of the authorities are anything to go by, he will certainly not be the last. (By Syed Shoaib Hasan, Monthly Herald, September 2002 issue)
Lyari Expressway The forced evictions will go head; Musharaf
A review meeting of Lyari expressway was held at Governor Houses on 3rd September. This meeting was presided by president general Musharaf and attended by the NHA chairman, a serving major general, the Sindh chief secretary, the DCO of Karachi and “other officials”. The president was quite satisfied with the progress of the work on this project and he said the government is offering very best resettlement to the effected families. The president said forced evictions will go head despite very strong concerns raised by the effected families, media and civil society organizations. None of the displaced families, or their representative or civil society organization, was present at the meeting to tell the president their side of the story.
President said it was unfortunate that adverse reports are projected in the media as if something wrong was being done. He further said that they are being allotted 80 square yards plots and Rs 50,000/- cash and still it is being projected adversely it is unfortunate.
The report by the official news agency also said that the authorities were going ahead with this project with “zeal and no compromises”. (URC, 05/09/02)
Lyari Expressway; Some more promises City government prepares Rs2.87bn rehabilitation plan
The City Government has prepared a comprehensive Rs2.87 billion plan for rehabilitation of shiftees of Lyari Expressway project. Some 15,000 people to be affected by the project are being rehabilitated in Hawkesbay, Baldia and Taiser Town areas. Of them 4,516 people would be rehabilitated in Hawkesbay, 4,314 in Baldia Town and 6,501 in Taiser Town. All the shiftees are allotted 80 sq yards plots besides cash Rs50,000 for construction of their houses.
These areas would be developed with the provision of basic civic facilities and as per Master Planning. The shifting of expressway affectees to Hawkesbay has completed and they have started construction of their houses and most of them have completed their houses. Recently Chief Secretary Sindh K B Rind had visited this new settlement in Hawkesbay to review the progress of work and had directed to make it a "Model Basti".
The DCO Karachi, Shafiq-ur-Rahman Paracha also visited the settlement to review the pace of work and held a meeting with the officials of the concerned departments, including the KESC, the KWSB, education, health, social welfare and the LDA. It was decided in the meeting that administration would approach the wholesalers for supply of construction material to residents of Hawkesbay Scheme at cheaper prices. It was also decided that the tools, which were used in the construction of houses, would be supplied to the newcomers of this settlement on rental basis, which would be just a symbolic rent of one Rupee per set.
In order to meet the drinking water requirement, it was decided that City government would arrange the supply through tankers. On the occasion the DCO laid the foundation stone of a school, hospital and a mosque, construction of which would be completed in one week and the school and hospital would be inaugurated next Friday.
The DCO directed the EDO education to ensure appointment of staff and supply of furniture for the school besides textbooks for children by the next week. He told them to ensure that all children in this settlement were provided admission as well as vaccinated by health department. The EDO education was also directed to compile details of the children of the settlement. The residents of the area thronged to meet the DCO and conveyed their happiness on the fast development work in their settlement.
It was decided that the upcoming residential colony would be developed as per requirements of the Master Plan so that people could enjoy better residential and civic facilities, while encroachments were also checked. According to another decision, a site camp of the social welfare department would also be established in the Basti, which would co-ordinate with concerned departments to solve the problems of people in respect of their civic facilities.
The DCO directed the social welfare department to help in establishment of a PCO in the Basti for the convenience of its residents. He talked to the people who had gathered there and listened to their problems. It was decided that administration would help in establishment of a Bazaar where various utility items would be available on cheaper prices. The residents of 500 quarters constructed nearby would also benefit from the Bazaar.
Sindh Governor Muhammadmian Soomro, accompanied by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission and the City Nazim, had also visited the area earlier and had assured the people that effective steps would be taken for solving their problems and necessary funds would be provided for the purpose. A tree plantation drive was also launched during the DCO's visit and it was decided that each of occupants of the houses would plant at least one tree. Meanwhile, Shafiq-ur-Rahman Paracha told APP that some 200 families completed the construction of their houses. (The News 02/09/02)
Lyari Expressway Shattered dreams
The government continues to turn a deaf ear to the grievances of the evicted families of the Lyari Expressway, writes Robin Fernandez. Over the past few decades, human settlements have been squeezing out every square yard of open space in the megalopolis of Karachi. The process of land reclamation and use has been swift as it has been unstoppable. Cast a baleful glance over your shoulder in any direction, and you will see row upon row of apartment blocks, duplexes and towers of concrete and glass. From the hills of Orangi to the Sea View beach and from Gulshan-e-Maymar to Mauripur Road, there is an unending stretch of residential and commercial buildings. One of the few remaining islands of empty space near the popular Hawkesbay beach is about to be occupied by homeless people. The government has offered hundreds of vacant plots in Hawkesbay, opposite the white-washed, austere homes of Gulshan-e-Benazir, to families whose homes were uprooted by the construction of the Lyari Expressway. The first settlers, whose houses were demolished last June in Shershah to make way for the Lyari Expressway, have already arrived here. But so far there is no sign of any real influx of settlers. Up to 300 modest houses may have been built in the past eight weeks but fewer than 30 families have actually moved there. M Arif, whose family was allotted a plot in Hawkesbay, says there is no rush to build houses on the plots, because there is an absolute lack of amenities. "There's no water, no electricity, and no gas. What are we supposed to do? Send our families here so that they can suffer," he says bitterly. Arif claims he makes weekly trips to the area to check if things have improved. "Lots of promises were made but none were kept." Shahid, an old neighbour of Arif, nods his head in agreement. "Some of our neighbours who have moved here tell us they can't sleep in their homes at night. Without electricity it can get really hot and unbearable out here. Swarms of mosquitoes make it even more difficult," remarks Shahid. Male members of all the households settled here have confessed to sleeping outside their homes, albeit at the mercy of mosquitoes. "It is much cooler out in the open and we will continue to sleep outside until electric power is supplied," says S Adil who built a house here four weeks ago. Among the first people to move to Hawkesbay from Shershah was sixty-year-old Baba Bakshi. "I spent Rs. 100,000 to construct my house here," Bakshi says, motioning us to follow him into his house. Bakshi's home consists of two small rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. "I fitted my house with wooden doors and window frames from my old house, and that saved me a lot of money," he says proudly. He enjoined his old neighbours to be patient with the authorities. "In good time, we will have all the utilities so let's be patient," he adds. Both Adil and Bab Bakshi rejected the model homes built for settlers by a group of overseas Pakistanis. "We opted for custom-built homes, ones that would fulfill our requirements," Adil explains. "The group offered to build the homes for 50,000 rupees--the exact amount we received as compensation for our demolished homes," Bakhsi interjects. "But its design was not to our liking." Fayyaz Hussain, an engineer working with the Katchi Abadi Development Authority, said he could not find any fault with the design or the material of the proposed model home. "For a sum of 50,000 I'd say that is a very good house," he claimed. "Our own estimates for a similar house would be nearer 65,000 rupees." Hussain was part of a fact-finding team of housing and construction experts who visited the Hawkesbay site on September 8. The team also visited the site of the demolished homes in Shershah on the same date and spoke with the affectees. Some of the displaced families have refused to resettle in alternative plots in Hawkesbay, some six kilometers away from their old neighbourhood in Shershah, until the government allots them space for a church. Almost all the representatives of the sixty Christian families whose homes were bulldozed two months ago said they would forego their rights to plots of land in case their demand was not met. Their church is likely to be the first among seven churches and two chapels to be torn down ahead of the Lyari expressway's construction. Speaking at a meeting of representatives of the uprooted families with housing experts, development workers and media men, Younus Masih said the government should include the provision of a church in its Hawkesbay resettlement scheme for the affectees. "Through reliable sources we have been informed that the National Highway Authority has drawn up plans for the construction of two mosques in Hawkesbay. Our demand is simple. Give us at least one plot for a church and another plot for our pastor," he said. "We'll move there right away after we have been guaranteed that." Flashing a copy of a letter written to the project coordinator and senior administration officials, Younus said the affectees had put up their case before the authorities a month ago. "We have not heard from them as yet," he said, unable to conceal his disappointment. According to the ARP church moderator Rev. Robert Mukhtar, the Christian community would need two churches-- one each in Shershah and Hawkesbay--after Dr E Getty's memorial church is razed to the ground. "Since the community will be divided into two groups--one that will relocate to Hawkesbay and the other that will be left behind, the people's demand is fair," he said. Built in the early '70s, the ARP church is spread over an area of 400 square yards. Mehmood Shahbaz, an area councillor and church official, said those evicted from their homes had been deliberately slow with the paperwork for their allotted plots of land. Caritas-Karachi has offered to provide the affectees food rations for a week as well as makeshift huts on their respective plots. "Knowing it would be difficult for them to construct houses at short notice, we offered them makeshift huts and food rations," a Caritas-Karachi worker said. "But they are dithering over the matter," he claimed. "They wanted us to construct their houses but we expressed our regrets. Instead, we suggested that we would put at their disposal our housing and construction experts who would counsel them on what to do with the compensation money they received," he explained. The government has handed out cheques of Rs 50,000 among each of the affected families. "I personally suspect they might have already spent that money on other things," said the Caritas-Karachi worker, adding that he could probably back his claim with empirical data. But at Sunday's meeting the evicted families vowed not to accept their plots of land until the government allotted a plot each in Shershah and Hawkesbay for a church building. Several Christian groups have pledged to lobby on their behalf. The affectees are expected to hold a meeting with a senior project official soon to secure an official guarantee. Some 60 families who were left homeless by the expressway project have taken shelter in two colonies near Keamari Town. "Almost 60 percent of these displaced families in Shershah (Keamari Town) are now living in Baldia Colony while another 20 percent moved to Ittihad Colony following the demolition of their homes," said Mahmood Shahbaz, the area councillor. Members of the displaced families say most of them had to spend a week out in the open. "It took a week for us to find lodgings elsewhere. We slept amid the ruins, surrounded by rubble and smashed pieces of concrete," said Younus Masih, reliving the horror of displacement. "Before the walls of our homes could be bulldozed we realised we had only one place to go and that was our church," he said, convulsing slightly. His neighbour Yousuf Masih then explained that some of the families took their belongings to the church building for safe-keeping until they could find proper shelter. Rev. Robert Mukhtar, moderator of the Presbyterian church, said although the church itself was on the demolition list, he allowed members of the congregation to keep their personal effects on the premises. "Plus, I was alive to the danger of theft. In all the chaos, I am happy to report that not a single incident of theft occurred, at least during and after the actual demolition. We had ample place to accommodate the most desperate among families," Rev. Robert said with a smile. But there was one unfortunate episode as the bulldozers swung into action. Arshad, a youth who was attempting to recover all his family's possessions, broke his spine as he fell off the roof of his house. His brother, Fayez, says Arshad is confined to his bed though he is slowly recovering from his injuries. "My household suffered the most because our house was burgled a few weeks before the demolition. We had been told earlier to vacate our homes and we did in anticipation of the demolition work. Thieves struck while we were away. Then we learnt that the operation was put off and so we returned only to discover that we had been robbed," Fayez recalled. (By Robin Fernandez, Dawn Rev, 2/9/02)
ADB denies funding of Lyari Expressway
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has denied reports that it would be financing the construction of the Lyari Expressway project. No ADB funding is proposed for this project.
This was stated by the Country Director, Asian Development Bank, Marshuk Ali Shah in his letter that he has written to the Chairman, Action Committee for Civic Problems, Baseer Naveed. According to sources, Chairman, Action Committee for Civic Problems has sent a protest letter to Country Director, ADB and stated that he had heard through National Highway Authority (NHA) that ADB was financing the Lyari Expressway project. That news were published in a section of Press and the citizens of Karachi would like to know the real position of ADB in this controversial and anti-people project, he added. He said that they are shocked that the ADB was financing this anti-people project and they informed that if this project was implemented, it would be a human tragedy and disaster for the city of Karachi.
The ADB Country Director has replied in his letter that the bank was not funding the Lyari Expressway Project. Earlier the Advocate General of Sindh misguided Sindh High Court by stating that the expressway project was being funded by the ADB. He presented some documents to the court to testify his claims. So far there is no reaction from Sindh government on ADB's denial. According to estimates of the Urban Resources Center (URC), over 230,000 people will be affected. Director, URC, Muhammad Younus said that the government is offering plots to these affectees in Baldia, Taiser Town, Surjani and Hawks Bay. Land required for resettlement is around 600 acres. These alternative sites have no water, roads, sewerage, electricity, social amenities or job opportunities, he added.
According to the URC report, the Lyari Expressway project has generated a lot of controversy and debate and as such, public consultations should have been held before deciding to build the project. Such consultations are important since many Karachi projects have been disasters and were foreseen as such by citizens’ groups and professionals, it added. The report says, the destruction of homes and businesses has been commenced before the finalisation of the plan and the options being offered to the affectees are in areas where there is no water, roads, electricity, social amenities or economic opportunities. A resettlement plan should have been an integral part of the project, it added. The report says: “That the adjacent areas of the Lyari Corridor have immense problems and they are the most congested areas of Karachi and are a major cause for Karachi’s environmental degradation.
The Lyari Expressway will not improve the conditions in these areas but may aggravate them further. The Lyari Expressway’s visual impact on the City is being seriously questioned by architects and needs to be subjected to an environmental impact analysis. Karachi’s traffic and related problems can be solved through more appropriate and cost-effective means than the building of the Lyari Expressway”. (By Aziz Sanghur Daily Nation 29/8/02)
SHC reserves order in affectees' petitions against Lyari Expressway
The petitioners fulfilling the criteria for alternative package announced by the government and to whom such package is acceptable should submit written applications with Advocate General Sindh and the city government by August 28.
A Sindh High Court bench, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jaferi, asked petitioners in Lyari Expressway case and reserved its verdict in respect of the petitioner who did not opt for the alternative package.
The govt offered package through the court that the petitioners possessing genuine leases would be given compensation as per provisions Land Acquisition Act (LAA) ie according to market price of the property. It further says that if the payment made by a leasee against the land in his possession was exceeding Rs50,000, the total amount paid by him would be refunded to him along with an 80 sq-yd plot. In the case of multi-storey buildings each floor would be taken to be individual family unit entitled to receive the same amount plus an 80 sq-yd plot. However, compensation on multi-storey buildings would be paid on floor basis and to its physical occupants. The AG Sindh Raja Qureshi and Syed Jamil Ahmed, counsel for KDA informed the bench that some of the petitioners had rejected the package while a large number of them had agreed to accept it.
Friday saw hot debates in the case; Showkat Shaikh advocate, counsel for petitioners from PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Old Sabzi Mandi and Soharb Goth, submitted a two-point counter proposal saying the govt should compensate all holders of leases, allotment orders and sanads etc as per the provisions of LAA 1894. He also proposed that compensation should be paid prior to demolition of houses/shops etc and pointed out that there was ambiguity in the govt package announced through the AG Sindh. It referred to 'valid and genuine' leases and the question of validity of the leases was the subject matter of the petitions. He submitted that it was the court and not the respondents who should decide as to the genuineness of the leases.
This counter proposal, however, displeased the AG Sindh who said he wanted to withdraw the State's offer and he was not in a position to give any assurance without seeking further instructions.
Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, however, observed that the second point of the proposal should, in all cases, be followed. The AG reiterated his arguments that the claim of some of the petitioners about holding legal leases granted by the KMC or Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority were not based on sound arguments. The KMC, when it granted the leases to the petitioners, was not the owner of the property it was leasing out while the lease granted by KAA, it was also hit by Rule 37 of Land Revenue Code, which said no land on either bank of river could be allotted to anyone for residential or commercial purpose.
He said Lyari Expressway project was funded by Asian Development Bank and the court injunctions were hindering it and the ADB would withdraw its funding if there was an undue delay. (The News 24/8/02)
Expressway woes
While the
proponents and opponents have gone endlessly about why this Expressway is
fruitful or an exercise in futility, the aspect of human suffering goes
almost unnoticed, writes Zofeen T. Ebrahim.
Affectees bring out rally against forced eviction
A large number of Lyari Expressway affectees on Monday brought out a rally from Hasan Aulia Village to Karachi Press Club as a protest against the forced eviction of the people from Lyari Riverbed and press for proper compensation to all victims.
The rally, held under the aegis of Action Committee for Civic Problems, reached the club via Garden Road, M A Jinnah Road, and Regal Chowk. A large number of children, residents of Lyari Riverbed and representatives of social welfare organisations attended the rally.
Maaroof Sultan, Vice-Chairperson of the Action Committee and other leaders criticised the city government and National Highway Authority for meting excesses to residents of the areas falling at the route of Lyari Expressway and urged the authorities concerned to construct the project in accordance with the original plan.
They urged that the authorities concerned should implement what was assured by the City Nazim in a meeting with the affectees and NGOs on May 15. Speakers appealed to the governor to take action against those officials who were demolishing the localities in the name of development work and ensure proper compensation and alternative land to those who were being dislocated from the site. They also appealed to the government to provide basic facilities in those far-flung areas where the city government was giving alternative plots to the affectees. (Daily News 20/08/02)
HIGHWAY TO HELL
Abdul Bhatti, who earns his living as a bus driver, has lived for over three decades in Sher Shah, a settlement along the banks of the Lyari river in Karachi. His cramped, 120 square yard dwelling was home to two families of 10 people. One day last month, at 8 a.m., a brusque announcement was made over a loudspeaker, ordering all residents of the area to vacate their homes within the hour. Demolition teams, reinforced by the rangers, police, and two truckloads of army personnel, stood by to begin the task of clearing the area. Resistance was met with shelling and lathi-charge from which even the women were not spared.
Today Abdul Bhatti’s house in a mound of rubble, as are the rest of the single-and double-storied buildings on Sher Shah’s Akber Road. In one place, remnants of a charpoy poke out of the chunks of concrete, a dusty slipper lies in another, testimony to the hasty departure of the occupants. Along with the flotsam and jetsam of daily life, dingy little tea stalls and paan shops that supplemented meager incomes have also been swept aside.
The residents of this low-income colony, a majority of whom are employee dint he city’s recycling industry and as daily wage labour, have since been running from pillar to post, trying to find alternate accommodation for their family members, particularly the women. Some have taken up temporary residence with their relatives elsewhere in the city; others have moved into rented premises, an expense they can scarcely afford. A few have had no choice but to spend nights under makeshift shelters in the open. In the process of this upheaval, some have lost their jobs. There are individuals who have suffered heart attacks from the shock of the swift and brutal demolitions. A 13-year old boy lost his life last month when he was buried underneath falling rubble.
Over 200,000 people are destined to be dispossessed of their homes in the largest eviction in Karachi’s history,, a human tragedy that has been billed by the local government as the biggest anti-encroachment drive ever carried out in the city.
The cause of the misery of so many: the construction of the Lyari Expressway. Their compensation: 50,000 rupees and an 80 square yard plots in areas on the city fringes, devoid of roads, water, electricity and gas.
The Lyari Expressway was initially proposed in the Karachi master plan of 1985 and, in 1992, detailed plans were drawn up for its implementation. But it is only now, under the military government, that the project has been taken up in earnest. However, while in the original plan, the Expressway was designed as an elevated road over the river itself, it is now to be constructed along both banks of the Lyari river, an exercise that entails the disruption of entire populations in the numerous settlements located along its purposed route and the destruction of the physical, social and economic infrastructure built up over the decades.
Sobia Khatoon has four daughters and one son. Widowed 20 years ago when her youngest was just an infant, she toiled as a cleaning woman at several houses to support herself and her children. When her daughters grew older, they worked as seamstresses. Over the year, Sobia Khatoon and her children painstakingly put together their savings and converted the katcha dwelling they initially lived in, on land that had been bought by her husband in Sher Shah colony, into a proper building. Then they had the first storey built, and later added a second one. With two floors rented out, while the widow occupied the third herself, it seemed that the years of hard labour had paid off. However, her house is one of those marked for demolition, which has so far only been prevented by a stay order form the Sindh High Court. “We have taken shelter in a rented house,” say Sobia Khatoon, “but this has reduced us to penury once again. The eviction is a death knell for us.”
According to estimates, which includes 46 Lyari community groups, 25,400 houses, 3,600 commercial units, 58 places of worships, 38 clinics, 10 schools and one hospital will be demolished in the exercise of constructing the Lyari Expressway. The reclaimed land, estimated to measure 1.8 million square yards, is worth about 20 billion rupees.
Opponents of the project, which is to cost five billion rupees, believe that the land remaining after the construction of the expressway and its associated infrastructure, contrary to claims that it will be given over to the construction of parks, will be gobbled up at throwaway rates by land grabbers and developers who will proceed to construct high-rise apartments and shopping complexes on it.
It is contended by some that this is the real purpose of the project and that the highway will not materialize at all. Says Muhammad Younus Baloch, Director, Urban Resource Centre (URC), “The Lyari Expressway is simply not feasible. The government does not have the kind of money needed to build it. The government was going to get a 10 billion rupee loan approved from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Northern Bypass but the project was whittled down to one costing 2.7 billion rupees by reducing its width and removing the fencing. The government proposed that the remaining 7.3 billion rupees be diverted to the Lyari Expressway, but the bank refused (It seems ADB now has changed its mind) because no resettlement plan for the evictees had been worked out which is an essential pre-condition for approval.”
The principal reason for the construction of the Lyari Expressway is ostensibly to provide a shortcut for heavy traffic to and from the port. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has stated that once it is constructed, 30,000 vehicles will ply on the 16.5 kilometre road. However, this will exacerbate environmental pollution in already the most congested area of Karachi; its proposed route defies the current practice of diverting heavy traffic from expressway passing through city limits, such as has been implemented in Riyadh, Bangkok and Boston, Needless to say, no environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been undertaken in the case of the Lyari Expressway as required by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997. opponents of the project point out that the Northern Bypass, which was initially proposed as an alternative to the Lyari Expressway, is already under construction, and will better serve as a conduit for heavy traffic.
The design of the Expressway has also been decried for its impracticality. At 12 points along its length of 16.5 kilometres, it will rise to 50 feet from an elevation of 20 feet to enable it to ‘fly over’ existing bridges. The ensuring result has been linked to that of a rollercoaster, which will place to strain on the vehicles plying on the Expressway, further causing them to emit pollutants into the air.
Interestingly, detailed plans of the Expressway have not yet been made public and concerned NGOs and associations have been provided with only a satellite map of the area with digitized lines marking the proposed route. This, and the arbitrariness evident in the planned reclamation of land has further fuelled the belief that the project is pandering largely to the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and land-grabbers/developers. It has been pointed out that at Sher Shah, a short distance from its starting point, the width between the north bound and southbound lanes on either side of the river is to be 860 feet whereas at Sohrab Goth, where the Expressway terminates, the width between the two narrows to 460 feet. The reason given for this is that flood waters will require a wider passage downstream. However, it seems that some construction, that too in the river bed, has been deliberately spread. One of the examples cited is that of a block of apartments owned by members of the Aga Khan community. Some areas, as well as certain godowns, are believed to have secured their continued existence in return for hefty bribes paid by the residents to the concerned authorities. As a result, to compensate the project design for leaving some construction untouched, large swathes of land on the opposite bank, inhabited since many decades, have been earmarked for demolition. Evidently, the plan is still in a fluid state; residents in several localities have alleged that the original design did not require their eviction, but that their areas were added later.
Official sources maintain that the evictions are also necessary in order to remove encroachments below the flood line. However, only 50 per cent of the designated areas are in the danger zone, while the rest constitute pre-Partition settlements and erstwhile katchi abadis which have since been regularized, where property is consequently eligible for lease, and has been leased in many instances. Even the danger zone does not pose much of a threat any longer; the last flood was in 1977 in which about 250 people living along the Lyari river bed perished. Sindh then, a trunk sewer, built as part of the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan, absorbs much of the excess rain water.
Another reason cited for the construction of the Expressway is that it will be an aesthetic addition to the city. This view has been promoted in official presentations with transparencies of boats sailing down the Lyari river and people strolling along its pedestrian walkways with pet dogs. A greater misrepresentation of facts can scarcely be imagined. The Lyari river, as far back as anyone can recall, is a sewage channel, and the proposed Expressway in unlikely to ever resemble to Lahore Canal Road, to which it is being compared.
Hasan Aulia Village, one of the oldest settlements of Karachi which traces its existence back to at least 125 years, is also included in the demolition plan, most of its residents are Baloch, and many of them have lived here for generations since their forefathers were granted the land during the British Raj.
Say Jan Mohammad, “We are the founders of Karachi; the colonial style construction on M.A.Jinnah road was undertaken by our ancestors. Many of them also worked on construction projects in Bombay and Delhi.”
Gulnaz Baloch, a doughty old woman with grizzled hair and the belligerent air of a pugilist, firmly announces that she will not allow the eviction to take place. “My family has lived here since time immemorial. I have seen Gandhi and Nehru with my own eyes. The Quaid’s grave was dug by my neighbour. Call the BBC; tell them to interview me. I’ll tell them all about what is being planned for us,” she says, beating her breast. Hasan Aulia village is one of the settlements where the demolition teams have met with the most resistance. Angry crowds of both men and women have blocked their path, refusing to surrender. A considerable amount of the construction here includes multi-storey buildings, the fruit of years of hard work in the Middle East, particularly from the 1970s onwards.
Mohammad Iqbal’s family has lived in Hasan Aulia since seven generations. His father and brothers work as labourers and drivers in Doha and Qatar. Their under-construction, three-storey house in Hasan Aulia has beige marble floors. The view from the roof includes the ancient Mewa Sha graveyard, where some of the tomb stones date back to 1750. Mohammad Iqbal says that officials have claimed that the graveyard will be spared. However, it is rumoured that a fatwa in support of leveling the graves has been obtained and that some graves are indeed falling within the demolition limits.
The inhabitants of the settlement also include low-income families, whose women are employed as sweepresses and washerwomen. When a group of media-persons and NGO activists arrived on a visit to the locality, several women gathered around, clamouring to be heard. Several of them wept incessantly; the constant, heart-breaking refrain was: “Where shall we go? What will become of us? We don’t know of any other place we can call home….”
Their despair and anguish over the eviction has been exacerbated by the fact, repeated ad nauseam through Karachi’s history, though never on such a large scale, that no proper resettlement plans have been put in place before the evictions have started. While the Land Acquisition Act allows the government to reclaim any leased or notified land, it specifies a certain procedure to be followed before such reclamation. A gazette notification must be published to the effect and made available to the settlements that are to be acquired. A public hearing on the issue is required to be held. Finally, the affected people are to be given as compensation, the market value of the acquired land in addition to any loss of livelihood that would ensue as a result.
While these legal requirements have been blatantly violated, the 200,000 plus evictees have been promised 80 square yard plots, regardless of the size of the property reclaimed for the Expressway project and the number of families living there, and 50,000 rupees for construction. The plots are located in Baldia Town, Taiser Town and Hawkesbay, but sources say that in the first two areas, they have yet to even be demarcated. Thus, many of the yellow allotment papers given to the evictees are vague in the extreme and do not specify the sectors or plot numbers. In Hawkesbay, three kilometers away from the main road, 675 plots have been demarcated and 22 families have begun building their homes there, apprehensive that any delay may result in their allotted plot being taken over by unscrupulous speculators or other claimants. Water, costing 50 rupees a drum despite its brackish taste, is transported to the site by donkey cart. The Baldia Town site is also situated about three kilometers from the nearest main road, the RCD highway. Taiser Town meanwhile, belongs to the board of revenue which has yet to transfer its. It is estimated that the land required for resettlement is about 600 acres. According to a paper written by the URC, “these alternatives sites have no water, roads, sewage, electricity, social amenities or jobs opportunities…experience tells us that it requires Karachi’s development authorities anything between five to ten years to fully develop 600 acres.”
The people evicted from Karachi’s Lines Area ten years ago in the course of the Lines Area Redevelopment Project were also given allotment papers, or parchis as they are known, similar to those in the Lyari Expressway case. Many of them have yet to obtain their plots. In fact, even those who sustained losses in the Lyari river flood in 1977 have still to be given the land that was promised to them.
“What will happen in all likelihook is that government officials will persuade disillusioned allotees to sell them the parchis for a few thousand rupees,” says URC’s Younus Baloch. “One government official may collect several such land allotment papers. During the course of time, the papers will be altered to show him as the allotee. When the resettlement area is finally developed, he will become a millionaire overnight. Some government officials have used this tactic since the ‘70s and become property tycoons. The same fraud was perpetuated on the Lines Area allotees as well.”
According to an authority on katchi abadis, “The preparation of the relocation sites should have begun in July last year. Poor people need everything where they are living because of transport costs.
Temporary shelters, a sort of transit camp, should have been provided where there should have been a site office for registration. When relocating people, it’s important that there is a host population with a similar socio-economic status in the near vicinity, so the relocated people can use their facilities such as clinics, schools, mosques and madrassas, until they build up their own. You can’t just fling people out into the wilderness.”
However, most of the evictees it seems, will not have to contend with such a situation, for they have been disqualified from obtaining even this “compensation”. The government has rigorously but selectively applied the Land Acquisition Act which denies compensation to illegal commercial outlets. In several places, residential quarters with an adjoining illegal commercial outlet were deemed commercial as a whole and refused compensation. On some occasions, even leased commercial outlets were designated illegal.
Even among the 700 buildings demolished so far that have been classified residential quarters, the occupants of only 200 have been given parchis and cheques. Some cheques have been rejected by the concerned bank on account of discrepancies in the payees’ names, an obstacle that has at times been rectified by bribing bank officials. Several residents allege that they have had to grease the palms of corrupt city government officials to get compensation in the first place. As a government official himself admits, “There are many stakeholders in this project.”
After having been placed on the back burner for several years, the construction of the highway, scheduled for completion in three years, is being pushed through with unseemly haste. The demolitions were to be completed within the first three months of this year. Their progress has only been impeded by stay orders obtained by residents from the court, and objections by NGOs and community associations.
There seems to be something rotten in the Lyari Expressway project, and this time, the stench is not just wafting up from the river. (By Naziha Syed Ali, Newsline, August 2002)
Lyari Expressway: UN concerned over evictions
The United Nations has taken serious notice of the alleged violation of human rights in the case of the Lyari Expressway victims and asked the Government of Pakistan to immediately stop the forced eviction of people settled along the Lyari riverbed, sources told The News on Saturday. The sources said that in a letter recently sent to the President General Pervaiz Musharraf, the UN commented that the manner in which these large scale forced evictions took place in connection with the proposed project seemed to contravene the right to adequate housing, protected under international human rights law.
They said that the letter was sent by Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing Miloon Kothari, who had been mandated by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to report on the status of the realisation of rights relevant to the mandate worldwide, including both the violations and the steps taken to realise the housing rights.
The world body also showed its displeasure over the government's decision of giving the alternative land to only 14,000 housing units "outside" the metropolis while the rest of the affected people would not be given any compensation, the sources added.
Quoting the information received by the civil society groups of Karachi, the letter stated that no public consultation took place before the start of the demolition work, urging the government to give those facing forced evictions an opportunity for genuine consultation and negotiation. The federal government was also urged to provide immediate compensation or adequate and sufficient alternative accommodation or land to the persons and communities who had been forcibly evicted.
"According to the information received from Pakistani, regional and international civil society organisations and the media, around 4,000 houses and commercial premises, belonging to the community living on the Lyari riverbed had been demolished since January 2002, which met strong opposition from the quarters concerned."
The sources said that the UN expressed grave concern over the continuation of the project, which would affect the livelihood of around 200,000 people or 77,000 families including 25,400 houses, 3,600 shops, 146 places of worship and 110 schools. In the letter, the sources said, the world body also regretted the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy by the falling rubble, which had caused public protest and led to the arrest of the protesters, including the affected people and their supporters. It was also regretted that the demolitions would render homeless a large number of those people, who have no provision for resettlement or compensation.
Moreover, the sources said, the UN regretted that the people living in this area had been denied the right to information by not being given sufficient notice about the evictions or information on whether they would be affected by the project or not. On the other hand, the resettlement sites were at distant locations, without any opportunity for livelihood for the evicted people and without basic infrastructure.
The sources further quoted the contents of the letter and said that as the Pakistan government had earlier assured that the subject matter would be resolved amicably, it (government) was again contacted with the hope that the commitment to protect the right to adequate housing of the people would prevail in the Lyari Expressway project.
The world body urged the government to engage in further dialogue with the affected people and civil society organisations and explore possible areas of collaboration for the realisation of the right to adequate housing and the development of comprehensive policies and programmes in Pakistan, the sources added. (By Moosa Kaleem,Daily News 18/08/02)
A human tragedy The largest eviction in Karachi’s history,, Asian Development Bank's Funding is being used to displace over 25400 housing and 3600 commercial units in Karachi
Advocate General of Sindh (AG) Mr. Raja Quresh is now officially confirmed that the Asian Development (ADB) is providing funding for controversial project of"Lyari Expressway". Advocate General admitted this in front of a division bench of Sind High Court, which is hearing case of the effected families. Over 200,000 people are destined to be dispossessed of their homes and business in the largest eviction in Karachi’s history,, a human tragedy that has been billed by the local government as the biggest anti-encroachment drive ever carried out in the city. See two news clipping below:
Lyari Expressway Lyari Expressway is being funded by ADB Advocate General admits in High Court
The advocates pleading all the 22 petitions against Lyari Expressway will have another opportunity to resolve the issue through negotiations and the Advocate General Sindh will arrange their meeting with City Nazim and concerned officials of the City Government in his office on Saturday (August 17) at 11:00am in his office.
A bench of the SHC passed an order to this effect during the hearing of these petitions on Tuesday. The court, however, declined the request made on behalf of the State that the stay order issued on these petitions be recalled to save this vital project from virtual failure.
Advocates Fazl-e-Ghani, Showkat Shaikh, M Jameel, Ghulam Kadir Jatoi, M Ilyas Khan, Ataullah Khan and others are appearing on behalf of the petitioners while the AG Sindh Raja Qureshi and AAG Suleman Habibullah are representing Sindh govt, S J Amad representing the KDA, Shahid Jameel representing the KBCA while Manzoor Khan is representing the city govt.
The bench, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmad and Justice Ali Aslam Jafri heard on Tuesday the petitions at length. It was stated on behalf of the State that the claim ofpetitioners that they held legal leases granted by the KMC or SKAA were not based on sound arguments. They said more than 2,400 people living on the banks of Lyari River accepted so far the compensation and the petitioners should also avail themselves to this offer.
The AG Raja Qureshi stated that Lyari Expressway project was being funded by ADB and its progress was hindered by the injunctions and due to delay the foreign funding would lapse. He requested the court to vacate the stays and offered to arrange a meeting with the high ups of the city govt, NHA and the petitioners' counsel to enable them find some amicable solution to the problem.
The bench refused to vacate the stay. However, it appreciated the offer of the AG Sindh to arrange a meeting between the parties and ordered that all the counsel for petitioners should reach the office of the AG Sindh on Saturday at 11.00am. With these orders the court adjourned further hearing till August 20. (Daily News 14/08/02)
CLICK HERE FOR ANOTHER CLIPPING
Lyari Expressway CHAMPIONS OF TRANSPARENCY
The government’s attempt to rationalize and justify the havoc created by its proposed construction of the Lyari Expressway seems very thin on logic and reason. After demolishing, without prior notice, the homes of thousands of people – many of whom had court orders – the provincial government and the National Highway Authority (NHA) have now come out with the rather unbelievable explanation that details of the project have always been open to the public, and that is in the best interest of all those who have been displaces.
In fact, in the past few weeks, the Sindh government even went as far as to say that the people – whose homes have been demolished – have welcomed the operation with open arms! Even the death of a young boy, who died some weeks ago during the demolition, was apparently covered up when an official spokesman claimed that he had died when he went back to his demolished home, apparently to recover some things that had been left behind.
Going back to the NHA’s claim that details of the project, including drawings and plans, were handed over in January to the Karachi city government for public display, the question then arises that why did the latter not publicize the project’s proposals, especially when thousands of people were going to be affected. In fact, covering a meeting of Lyari Expressway at Governor House, the official news agency mentioned that “progress” had been made. ‘Progress’ for whom, though? Certainly not for the thousands of people who have lost their homes because of the demolition. This meeting was attended by the NHA chairman, a serving major general, the Sindh chief secretary, the DCO of Karachi and “other officials” and in the end the governor was quoted as being quite pleased that the project was finally going ahead. Now, this is not to say that development projects should never happen but the point is that why must they be carried out in such a ham-handed manner, and especially with an obvious disregard for those who will be most affected by it. Surely, none of the displaced families, or their representative, was present at the meeting to tell the Sindh governor their side of the story.
The report of the meeting said that “it was observed (sic) from comments of various persons that there is some misconception /misunderstanding about the Lyari expressway. It was explicitly clarified (sic) that this project is a boon both to the residents of the area of influence outside the riverbed as well as to those living in the riverbed itself. Some 150,000 persons are living in the flood plain of the river in very unhygienic, unsafe and dangerous conditions”.
The fact of the matter is that not many of the 150,000 people affected by the expressway see it as a boon. The fact also is that while the river is close to where they live, by no means are they living in what the authorities constantly refer to as a “riverbed”. In any case, they have been living there for decades and up till now no flood destroyed their homes and swept them away, except for one incident in 1977 which more or less submerged the rest of the city too. As for the “misconception/ misunderstanding” it could easily be argued, and perhaps with greater force of the NHA have a greater misunderstanding of the projects claimed benefits but obviously since they call to shots – and the thousands of displaced don’t – what they say gets done.
The report by the official news agency also said that the authorities were going ahead with the project with “zeal and no compromises”. Well, it’s certainly heartening to see the government and its various agencies going about doing their work with such ‘zeal’ but one would like to ask the NHA and the provincial government just what is meant by “no compromises”. Clearly, that seems to be a reference to the opinions of those who feel that the Lyari Expressway will do more harm than good, especially when better alternatives exist. (Daily DAWN-15, 05-08-2002)
Lyari Expressway Legal status of the Expressway
Land can only be acquired from
leased settlements and notified katchi abadis through the Land Acquisition
Act.
Lyari Expressway Controversy Expresswoes By Rabia Asif The physical and psychological trauma of a displaced community by a project that has been rejected by experts and analysts Roughly 40 years ago when migrants from Punjab, Sindh and the Frontier began to settle here, Lyari River held clean water and fish, and much farming activity. Its earliest settlers from Balochistan had established village Hasan Aulia almost 200 years ago, being among the first few communities to settle in Karachi. Gradually as Karachi's population grew, the river was converted into a sewerage channel for the city.
Today
the total population of katchi abadi dwellers along the Lyari corridor
stands at approximately 200,000, all of whom are being removed while their
land is being taken over by the Pakistan government for the construction
of the Lyari Expressway. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 5
billion, and a total of 25,000 houses (98 per cent of which are pukka
construction), 3600 shops/commercial units, 50 mosques, 5 churches, 8
temples, 10 schools, 38 clinics, 1 hospital, and 66 factories will be
bulldozed. As an angered resident from Hasan Aula village exclaims
"this is the kind of cruelty our own government is subjecting the
awaam (public) to-- and we are busy crying over India and Israel".
While the validity of the Karachi Northern Bypass is agreed upon, experts
The Northern Bypass was conceived in 1980 as a much needed means of linking the Karachi port to the Karachi Superhighway which connects the city to the north of Pakistan. The purpose of the bypass was to redirect all port related traffic -- which constitutes 20,000 heavy diesel vehicles passing through the city daily -- to the Superhighway. Because the Bypass project never took off, in 1989 the then government proposed the Lyari Expressway (an expressway along Lyari River) as an alternative. This proposal was severely opposed by professionals, NGOs and Lyari community groups as the expressway -- like Lyari river -- would pass through the center of the city, hence enhancing the very problems that a transit bypass was to solve. In 1995 and 1996 after a dialogue between citizens and the then elected government, the Lyari Expressway project was aptly cancelled.
In June 2000, however, it was decided by the military government that both the Northern Bypass and the Lyari expressway would be built. On April 27, the ground breaking ceremony for both projects was held. And while ceremonies and celebrations for these projects proceeded, residents of the Lyari embankments were undergoing threats that their homes were going to be razed to the ground. Those opposing the project primarily argue that, as reiterated by Arif Hasan, "when the Northern Bypass is being built for port related traffic there is no justification for building the Lyari Expressway".
Officials of the National Highway Authority -- to which contract for construction has been given -- give various reasons for the Expressway's feasibility: "unauthorised people are living in the Lyari bed and are in the right of way -- they are going to be resettled in a proper environment; port traffic is going to be diverted to the Expressway at high speed; and the Expressway will beautify the city as per the beautification programme". They also assert that the Northern Bypass project "is not at all the same -- the Lyari Expressway is more important particularly for Karachi".
Arif Hasan gives further reasons for the Lyari Expressway being entirely without validity: "The Lyari Expressway is in no way a priority for the city -- Rs. 5 billion are being spent when there are no bus terminals for the city, the main corridors are broken and there are no footpaths, there is no traffic management. Many link roads connecting the corridors that were planned in the Master Plan haven't been built; if these were done it would ease traffic much more than building the Expressway and would benefit commuters and neighbourhoods rather than just motorists".
There are also fears that the expressway will cause congestion and environmental pollution. "This traffic is going to pass through the most heavily congested areas of the city. You don't build expressways through city centers. Cities that have, like Bangkok, regret them. The Europeans also learnt a long time ago that traffic should be by-passed", says Arif Hasan. In addition, as far as the Expressway's proposed design goes, he says that "it is a vulgarity because in its journey of 16.5 km , there are going to be 16 bridges and 4 interchanging flyovers.". In the eviction drive, the Lyari Expressway project is responsible for large scale dislocation of communities along the Lyari bed and the Lyari corridor as well as the destruction of businesses, social facilities and physical infrastructure. This displacement of 200,000 people is a great humanitarian problem. Aside from the immense financial loss and physical and psychological trauma suffered by all residents, the evictions are causing a direct increase in homelessness and joblessness. The 36,000 commercial enterprises being demolished provide jobs to over 40,000 workers. Most inhabitants also held jobs within reasonable distance from the Lyari corridor. "The government is cruel! These are all ghareeb mazdoor (poor working-class) people- who work all day and come home to eat and sleep at night- they are stealing our Sakoon (peace) from us," says a resident.
Also according to studies conducted by the URC (Urban Resource Center) Karachi, the expressway would not provide the much needed space for cargo terminals and warehousing, which the Northern Bypass will provide.
Since Jan 20 2002, over 4000 residential and commercial units have been demolished. With the help of army rangers and police, bulldozing is being done by the department of City District Government Karachi (CDGK), which claims that the project is "under direct orders and monitoring from General Musharraf" and confirms that "the demolishing operation will continue until all 'encroachments' are clear".
Residents whose houses were demolished on June 27 say that although they had been aware of the threat, they were given no notification prior to the bulldozing operation. "Early in the morning we were awakened by teargas 'grenades' and the lady police were saying apni jan bachao (save your lives). We weren't even given the chance to collect our samaan (belongings)". Another resident exclaims: "That day it was like qayamat here!". On July 11, the ongoing bulldozing operation took the life of 13-year-old Rehman, who was caught underneath the collapsing wall of his house while trying to secure his belongings. In two separate instances, two women died of heart attack while their houses were being bulldozed, bringing the death toll to eight.
The less revealed truth about the Lyari Expressway is that all land along Lyari River is a gold-mine for land-builders and investors. Many professionals opposing the project as well as affected residents, agree that demolishing is being done for the purpose of selling the land to land-builders -- since bulldozing is taking place over an area far greater than that required for the road. In the pattern of many such 'development' projects countrywide and worldwide, as soon as the value of property increases, land becomes prime commercial property and consequently whatever stands in the way of its commercialisation, is eliminated. The affected are usually katchi abadi dwellers who, due to the government's failure in fulfilling the housing needs of the poor, settle on land sold to them by the city's land mafia (land grabbers). Thus contrary to the misconception that katchi abadi dwellers live free of cost, both land and services such as electricity, water supply, and gas are sold to the them by informal agencies or mafia, most of which are closely linked to government agencies and police. Bulldozing is also being done with blatant discrimination, sparing apartment buildings, godowns and factories belonging to the influential and well-connected. In this case too, as a resident of one of the affected abadis aptly says "Expressway aisay ghoom raha hai jaisay saamp (the expressway is zig-zagging like a snake)".
The settlements along the Lyari corridor embody years of investment and struggle by the people. Today 98 per cent of homes are pukka construction. Over the years, residents have gained legal electricity, water supply and sewerage after painstaking lobbying with the government. 90 per cent of them pay regular taxes and an average of 60 per cent homes have been legalised. In village Hasan Aulia for example, 90 per cent of homes are leased by the Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority. As a resident says: "they are calling the legal 'illegal'. These leases which they themselves have issued they are now calling fake". The CDG says that "it will not be possible to construct the road unless all those in its right of way are removed".
Appallingly, a 112 year old Jamia Mosque in the village is among the buildings marked for demolition. The government's exploitation of those that are weak is clear. But equally tragic is the helpless and resigned stance that the affected seem to have adopted. Still, many are not giving up without a fight. Protests and exchanges between army, police, and residents are taking place almost daily, with the army contingent many times resorting to tear gas, lathi charge, and even firing.
What the Lyari operation demonstrates is that while past governments may have been nauseatingly corrupt, there was clearly far more possibility of a dialogue between people and the government. In such a project where the lives of millions are being disrupted, there is a need for transparency where the social, economic, and technical viability of the project is made public. Among other appalling truths that emerge in the Lyari Expressway crisis, what it also reflects is the shape of things to come -- that the well being of citizens is secondary to the might of the gun.
The resettlement plan; The government, prior to the evictions, promised that all inhabitants will be resettled, as per the need of the law. In the case of Lyari Expressway, the government s violating the national laws. A female resident of one of the abadis points out, "if they really need this land for this road, we should first be settled on new land and then they should do all this!". Any resettlement initiative is in principle based on a resettlement plan, and the plan in itself is founded on a survey of existing realities. No such resettlement plan has been made and all information is being kept secret. A number of those evicted from Lyari River have been handed slips of paper with names of family heads. These slips bear no plot umbers or any other details verifying their 'resettlement'. Officials of the City District Government claim that "plots of 80 square yards have been allotted to every family in Hawks Bay, Taiser Town and Surjani Town." However according to those affected, much of the vast barren land on the fringes of the city to which they are being sent bears no plotting, nor does it have the provision of any of the basic services (water supply, electricity, sewerage, or gas). "They want to throw us into a jungle!", says a troubled resident. According to authorities of the City District Government, "ground work for the development of services is ongoing", however residents maintain that they have clearly seen no such sign. As has been the norm in most such 'resettlement' cases in the past, 60 per cent of such parchis (slips) are distributed among junior government workers, while only the remaining 40 per cent usually reach the affected people. In the case of village Sher Shah which was among the first to be demolished in the June 27 eviction operation, residents say that out of 500 homes that were demolished, only 200 families have been allotted compensational plots. One man even claims that "I had three houses and I haven't received even one plot as compensation!". Ultimately, the katchi abadi dwellers that do receive these parchis sell them back to government officials and resettle into other katchi abadis of the city. Also, of the Rs 50,000 cheques distributed among families, many claim that more than half of these are not cashable. Says one resident, "I am not being able to get cash for the Rs 50,000 cheque because they say that my name is mis-spelt". When asked about this problem, an official of the CDGK says that "human error is possible but they are being rectified then and there. We are admitting there are some mistakes but we are trying to do all that is humanly possible."
Reflecting a typical misconception, an onlooker commented: "Of course the government will demolish these houses, it's the government's land." Priority in Pakistan seems to have shifted from the people's rights to the phenomenon of the government's rights over the people. Sadly it has been forgotten that the purpose of the government is primarily to meet people's needs and to work for the greater good. And that this arrangement is one of give and take, whereby people pay taxes and provide their services, while the government's role is to fulfill their needs and govern their collective affairs. (The News, 21/07/02)
Lyari Expressway Govt's failure to compensate affectees stigmatises project
The City Government's failure in compensating a large number of Lyari Expressway affectees has stigmatised the advantages of the Rs5 billion project, currently in the stage of clearance of its route. The affectees informed that over 200 families, dislodged from Shershah and adjacent areas during the operation to clear the route of the expressway, were still waiting for alternative plots and compensatory amount despite the assurance that no residential unit would be demolished unless they were not duly compensated. During a visit by the journalists and workers of the NGOs to different parts of Lyari Riverbed, organised by Urban Resource Centre on Wednesday 17 July 2002, the affectees claimed that concerned city government officers were demanding heavy bribes to "help" them in getting compensation -an 80 square yards plot and Rs50,000 cheque.
"They rendered us shelter-less first without any hesitation and now using delaying tactics on the pretexts of production of different documents including death certificates etc, aggravating our miseries and mental agony" said a Shair Khan, whose house was razed a couple of weeks ago. "I have shifted my daughters to my relatives' house and am sleeping in the open," said 70 year-old Muhammad Khan pointing to the debris of his razed house.
The afeectees said they had been living in the locality, Shershah, for the last four decades and their houses were demolished without any prior notice. Muhammad Zaman said he owned two houses in Shershah, Block B, which are mere debris now, but no compensation had been given so far. Hameed Ahmad said it was long since he was made a "shuttle cock" between different offices of the city government but did not get any compensation.
Another affectee Syed Ali Shah said he had spent his life time savings on constructing house on a 200-square-yard plot but was neither given the documents of 80-square-yard piece of land to be given as alternative nor he received the Rs50,000 compensation cheque. Khair Muhammad, resident of demolished house No 166, Street 35, Shershah, said the concerned officers were forcing people to grease their palms to get compensation.
Abdul Aziz, an old man sitting in a tent erected on the debris of his house, said he had bought his house in 1965 and was now rendered shelterless and without any compensation. He alleged that lady constables had badly beaten her daughters while they were trying to get them out of their house before demolishing it two weeks ago. He had shifted her daughters to relatives' house, he added. A large number of affectees said their houses were either demolished or to be demolish within a few days despite they possessed the leases and other related documents. Saleha Khatoon, resident of D-15/47, Block B Shershah, said she possessed the lease and other documents but even then the city govt officers asked her to vacate the house a couple of days ago. "My husband had died 20 years ago and I struggled hard to earn bread for myself and my five daughters. I do not have any son and am worried where to take my daughters after they demolish my house."
Some of the residents who had vacated their houses in view of demolition said that the windows, grills etc of their houses were already stolen. "There is no need to mention how we manage to construct and decorate our houses," said another affectee while referring to the stolen fittings of his building. Some of the affectees objected over the location of their proposed alternative plots. They said first of all Rs50,000 were not adequate to build a house while Hawkesbay and other far flung areas where they were likely to receive plots, lacked utility services.
"How can I take my four daughters to the jungle and how can I construct house with only Rs50,000," said a 90-year-old widow, Naimat Bibi, whose house is situated in Muslimabad and could be demolished in a few days. The residents of some areas, including Shershah Colony, Mianwali Colony, etc claimed that most of the houses of their localities were not included in the list of the structures impeding Lyari Expressway but the 'corrupt' officers had now included such localities also for the sake of their "vested interests".
A former councillor Muhammad Asghar Niazi said Mianwali Colony consisted 1,200 leased residential units was not included in the actual plan but it was suddenly chosen for demolition in January 2002. The court concerned had ordered stay for 100 houses but the residents were served with ultimatum to vacate the houses at the earliest, he added.
Asghar Niazi and some other residents and social workers, who were present on the occasion, warned the concerned authorities of resistance in case they attempted to demolish their houses. Chairman Action Committee for Civic Problems Baseer Naveed, who was also present on the occasion, urged the authorities to review the layout plan and avoid demolishing the houses which were not including in the original layout plan.
DEMO: A large number of the residents of the centuries old Hasan Aulia Village, including women and children, staged a demonstration in their locality on Wednesday to protest against the expected demolition of their houses. They carried placards inscribed with condemnation of the operation and warnings the authorities of strong resistance if their houses were demolished. Some of the protesters wore headbands inscribed with "House or Death." They said they and their ancestors had been living in the Village for over two centuries and they would never vacate their "homeland" at any cost.
RESISTENCE: The City Government team had to postpone its operation in Multani Mahalla of Muslimabad when a large number of residents gathered outside their houses, forcing the team to leave the scene. The officers concerned, accompanied with area police, had served a two-hour notice to the residents on Wednesday morning but they postponed the demolition work following the resistance. (Daily News 18/7/02)
NHA blasted for sitting on design: Lyari Expressway
They said they could not understand the reason for keeping a development plan secret where the government planned to demolish thousands of residential and commercial units. "It is surprising to note that area people were neither taken into confidence at the planning stage nor at the execution stage," they added.
A representative of the Lyari Rabita Council said that there would have been no controversy on the project if the project had been implemented by the City Government or the Sindh Government on the basis of the original plan. According to him, the situation changed when the project was handed over to the NHA bypassing the City and Sindh governments. The LHA representative, Javaid Memon, said the NHA had made a mess of things by taking hasty actions without taking people into confidence because it was not aware of the ground realities.
"A lot of confusion was created over the demarcation of land and then demolition operation was carried out in a hasty manner," he said, adding that he failed to understand why a complete secrecy had been maintained over the publication of the design of a vital development.
The
Baloch Rabita-Ittifaq Tehrik urged the government to direct the NHA authorities
to clear the confusion over the design, otherwise the ongoing demolition would
create a "horrible situation" and the NHA would be held responsible
for it. BRIT provincial chief Rauf Baloch said: "A crisis is already
brewing due to the NHA's hasty demolition plan." Adding, he said: "It
is a
VISIT:
A group of newsmen visited the Expressway site on Wednesday to see the
after-effects of the recently carried out
A survey by the Lyari Nadi Welfare Association (LNWA) shows there are 46 settlements located on both banks of the river and most of these settlements will be evicted if the proposed expressway is implemented.
The LNWA surveyed the river-bed in the beginning of 1995 and the results showed that 24,000 housing units are located on both sides of the river. About 25 per cent of them are concrete structures and the rest are semi-concrete. About 90 per cent population has water connections whereas 80 per cent have electricity and 60 per cent have gas supplies.
"Despite all these facts, if the government is sincere in implementing this project, we will cooperate with the government in the greater interests of the city", a CBO activist said provided "But it must ensure the marking of land required for the expressway with the minimum dislocation of housing units, and proper compensation and alternative housing should be given to the dislocated families within the reach of their job locations." (Daily Dawn 18/07/02)
Lyari Expressway THE DEVASTATION ALONG THE LYARI CORRIDOR
The journalists and workers of the NGOs who visited to different parts of Lyari Riverbed on 17 July 2002 strongly condemned bulldozing operations, They declare these demolitions brutal and violation of basic human right of poor communities, such acts would never be justified for any reasons. They termed expressway project as illogical, ill-conceived, and technically and economically not feasible.
Over 4000 houses and commercial units were bulldozed by the city administration in the last six months to make way for the Lyari Expressway. These demolition were carried out in two phases: Phase I: January - March 2002: over two thousand housing units and shops were bulldozed. Phase II: 27 June - 12 July 2002; another 2000 housing and commercial units were bulldozed Phase III: Government is planning for phase III. Many settlements are being threaten for evictions.
This demolition was carried out with support of the rangers and the army and when the residents protested, they were heavily tear gassed and beaten. Another 25,000 houses have been marked for demolition along with 3,600 commercial enterprises that provide jobs to over 40,000 workers. Many of the homes and businesses being demolished are leased and many more have legal water and electric connections for which they pay utility charges. Some of the settlements that are being effected are over 150 years old. These demolitions are being carried out in violation of national and international laws and without taking the affectees into confidence or providing them with appropriate alternatives to their devasted lives. These demolitions will leave tens of thousands of Karachiites homeless, jobless and destitute and deprive their children of education, thus increasing social conflict and unemployment in an already badly brutalized city. All attempts at establishing a dialogue with the government agencies on this issue have failed. The following organizations (NGOs/CBOs) strongly condemned bulldozing operations along Lyari riverbed. * Karachi United Welfare Association * Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) * Caritas (Karachi) * Idara Amn-o-Insaf * Awami Jadoo Jahed * Awami Colony Lease Committee * Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) * Aurat Foundation * Ghaziabad Falahi Committee * Orangi Welfare Project * Bright Education Society * Catholic Social Services (CSS) * Lyari Nadi Welfare Association * OPP-RTI * OPP-OCT * Katchi Abadis Alliance (Karachi Division) * United lease Committee (Pahar Ganj) * Creed Alliance * Action Committee for Civic Issues * Arm Child & Youth Welfare Centre * Hasan Olia Welfare Association * Saiban; Action Research for Shelter * Asra Karachi * Muttida Council Lyari Expressway * Action Cpmmittee for victims of Expressway * Social Welfare Council Umer Colony * Women Action Forum (WAF) * Urban Resource Centre (URC, 17/07/02)
Lyari Expressway The disaster of Hasan-Aulia Village, On July 9 the front page of Dawn featured a most heroic news item 'Foreign Office of Pakistan Government condemns demolition of century-old mosque in Ahmedabad'. The Foreign Office spokesman rightly called it "a reprehensible act... aimed at depriving the Muslim minority of their fundamental right to worship." Such an act is indeed reprehensible, and must be condemned by all those with any value for human dignity. It would be a pleasant surprise, however, if the Pakistan government would remember that guarding the rights of the Muslim majority in their own homeland, too, is something to which they took allegiance at the birth of this nation. The Jamia Mosque of Hasan-Aulia Basti was built in 1890. This mosque, which has stood in village Hasan-Aulia for over a century, is going to be demolished on the orders of the government of Pakistan. On July 7, I visited Hasan-Aulia village, a low-income settlement on the banks of Lyari River, Karachi. Besides the historic Jamia Mosque, 1,300 homes, three other mosques, two clinics, 10 mazaars, and 200 shops have all been earmarked for demolition. Ironically, land was allotted to residents of this village by our colonial rulers, the British. In 1993, homes in the basti were granted lease by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). Over time residents of the village with their own agonizing efforts, secured legal electricity, water supply, and sewerage. Today the village houses an estimated population of 15,000. Over the past six months the residents of Hasan-Aulia village have received threats from the Pakistan government regarding the demolition of their homes, as these stand in the way of the highly suspect project of Lyari Expressway. Does the rule of law in Pakistan itself declare it legal to disgrace lives, homes, and places of worship in the name of so-called 'development'? And is there really no alternative than to strip people of their shelter, their dignity and of what they have called their own for more than a hundred years? Perhaps the Foreign Office or for that matter any of the guardians of the rights of Muslims, should also remember that Muslim lives and places of worship on their own soil are just as precious as those on enemy territory. It is easy to wage wars and condemn acts of violence and injustice. What does not come so naturally, unfortunately, is for the Pakistan government to once in a while check its own acts of shame. (by Rabia Asif, D-4, 13-07-02, Karachi)
Lyari Expressway Demolition halted as boy's death leads to riots: Lyari Expressway operation
The army was called out to maintain law and order in the troubled area as the police failed to control the situation. Army vans patrolled the area and brought the law and order situation under control. The demolition operation of commercial and residential units was in progress to pave the way for the construction of the 16.5 kilometres-long Lyari Expressway along the Lyari River. The City Government, on Wednesday, demolished some 70-80 residential and commercial units near the Lovelane Bridge, connecting Garden to the Pak Colony (Old Golimar) area. During the operation, a 13-year-old boy, later identified as Abdur Rehman, was collecting household items and belongings from his house when a wall collapsed on him, resulting in his instantaneous death on Wednesday evening. His father, Omar Daraz, had his paan shop demolished in the operation, which was the only source of income for his family. Omar lost his second son in the demolition operation as he had lost an elder son in an accident some years back. The death of the boy was followed by widespread anger and resentment among the area people, who raised slogans against the City Government and the police. The situation worsened when the area people tried to place the body of the boy on Lovelane Bridge. The police interfered and stopped the people from approaching the bridge. The people started pelting moving vehicles with stones and blocked the main road. As a result, traffic was also disturbed on Nishter Road near Zoological Garden. Later in the night, the enraged people dispersed. The body of the boy was not shifted to any hospital for autopsy and he was buried late in the night.
As
the demolition operation was about to resume on Thursday morning, the
people resisted the operation and took to the streets. They again blocked
vehicular traffic on Nisther Road, Lovelane Bridge and other link roads The police reached the spot and attempted to disperse the people, who again pelted the police with stones. The police resorted to baton-charge the protesters who ran helter-skelter into the narrow streets. Although vehicular traffic was allowed to resume, the hide-and-seek between protesters and the police continued till noon, when the army was finally called out to bring the situation under control. After army vans entered the troubled area, the police disappeared from the scene and the law and order situation improved. According to the area people, they were not served any evacuation notice by the department concerned and the demolition operation had started without any prior information to the residents. They claimed that announcements were made on-the-spot, directing the residents to vacate their houses immediately and they were not even allowed to collect their household items and belongings. The people alleged that demolition work was also being carried out with discrimination as the structures of influentials or those who had greased the palms of those carrying out the demolition operation were not demolished. (Daily Dawn 12/07/02)
Lyari Expressway Bulldozing operation claims boy's life and women died with heart failure total death toll reached up to six. Thousands rendered homeless and jobless
The ongoing bulldozing operation for the construction of 16.5km long Lyari Expressway claimed the life of a teenaged boy in Rexer Lines within the limits of Garden police station on Wednesday, police and witness said. According to details, anti-encroachment staff of the city government was demolishing the constructions in Rexer Line area when a wall of a house collapsed causing serious injuries to Rehman s/o Omar Daraz (13). He was rushed to Civil Hospital where doctors declared him dead. (The News report) {Another women died due to hear failure when bulldozers crashed her house. Tptal death toll since January this year has reached up to six. (URC Report)} Violence erupted in the Rexer Lines after the news of his death reached the area. Enraged youth took to the streets, raised slogans against the government and pelted stones on moving vehicles. They also burnt tyre and placed obstacles on the road as a result traffic remained suspended. Heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces rushed to the affected area and tried to control the situation. The irksome crowd also pelted stones on the LEA and resorted to aerial firing. Witnesses said police resorted to teargas shelling and tried to disperse the crowd. However, till our going to press tension prevailed and police and rangers were seen patrolling in the affected area. (The News 11/7/02 Karachi)
Lyari Expressway Expressway devastation
I was devastated at the devastation. No infrastructure project, however wonderful, can justify this barbarism carried out by our government with the help of the army and rangers. Over 200,000 people will be made homeless and jobless, and ancient settlements, such as the Hasan Auliya Village, will also be affected. Weeping people showed us leased documents, electricity and water bills and begged for protection. The scene reminded me of TV coverage of the Jenin refugee camp but here the devastator is not an occupying power but our own government. I wonder if this devastation could have been possible on such a big scale if we had an elected government. From your columns it is obvious that Expressway is a controversial project. Even if it were not why does the government not first learn to look after and use properly the existing infrastructures? There are traffic problems because traffic is not managed, the roads are all broken and cannot be used for more than half their width, there are no footpaths, no bus stops, the circular railway track lies unused. The list is endless and we build an expressway that is duplicating the Northern Bypass! So much for common sense. May be after the Lyari Expressway is damaged due to non-maintenance, we will abandon it to build its alternative thus continuing to make the corrupt rich, adding to their numbers and impoverishing our people. (By Noor Jehan Farooqui, 11-07-02)
Lyari Expressway An appeal from the poor communities of Lyari River Over 25000 poor housing dwellers are looking for immediate help from national and international housing and human rights organizations as their lives and properties are under threat of the most horrifying and worst evictions of Karachi's history. These evictions were started in January this year and so far government has bulldozed over 4000 housing and commercial units, rendering thousands of people homeless and jobless. The government is violating its own national laws to carry out these evictions. The Laws which are being violated: i. A stay order from Sindh High Court against these demolitions is being ignored. ii. Resettlement policy announced on January 15, 2001 by president musharaf is being violated iii. A written agreement by the city government with communities to review this project. It also formed a 9 member committee but no meeting of this committee was held. iv. Under the national laws an Environmental Impact Assessment was essential for such project. No such study is conducted v. No public hearings were held for this project.
According to government's resettlement policy only 14,000 housing units will get alternative land out side of the city. And rest will not get any alternative land or compensation. The communities fear that in government list for compensation there are over 60 percent fake/bogous names. The government is planning to bulldozed over 25,000 housing units, 3600 shops/commercial units 50 mosques, 5 churches, 8 Mandirs, 10 schools, 38 clinic, 1 hospital, and 66 factories. All these destruction is being done to make space to build proposed Lyari Expressway. Most city experts, NGOs and government officials firmly believe the city does not need this project. Kindly send your concerns on this issues to the following authorities in Pakistan
1.
General Pervez Muharraf Fax numbers: 92 51 9207656 and 92 51 9270205
2.
Main Muhammad Soomro, Governor of Sindh
3.
Advocate Namatullah Khan, City Nazim Mayor of Karachi 4. Tansneem Ahmad Siddiqui, Director General Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority Fax No. + 92 21 9211272 5. Ovis Ghani,
Federal
Minister for local Bodies Katchi Abadis
No to the Lyari Expressway By Arif Hasan July 18, 2002
The immense humanitarian disaster (physical, social and economic) that is being created as a result of the building of the Lyari Expressway has been covered by the press. Urban planning considerations for and against the Expressway have also been discussed for many years. Appeals for transparency regarding the project design and for public consultations regarding its concept have also been made by citizens, NGOs, CBOs and planning professionals. These have been ignored by the government. However, since the decision of the military government to build the Expressway was taken, the authorities have given a number of justifications for its construction. These justifications need to be considered rationally.
What has been said by the authorities, time and again, is that they wish to remove and stop for the future, encroachments in the river bed since they can be washed away during floods. The concern of the authorities as such is for human life and property and is commendable. However, the Expressway is not removing people only from the river bed. More than fifty per cent of the affectees of the Expressway are those whose houses and businesses come in the Expressway alignment and who live above the flood line. In any case for shifting people from the river bed, an Expressway is not required. All that is required is to shift the population living below the flood line. This population is engaged for the most part in the garbage sorting and recycling business which is also located along the corridor. Discussions with them indicate that they would be happy to shift along with the businesses to the Northern Bypass or to land fill sites, provided water and electricity is available. To prevent further encroachment, all that is required after that is the channelisation of the river and the building of retaining walls along its banks.
The other reason that has been given is that the building of the Expressway will provide “unhampered and quick access to port traffic”. But then, the Northern Bypass is being built for this purpose and after its construction, what need is there for the Expressway? Is it necessary to duplicate this function? It does not make sense. It makes even less sense since many cities who built expressways through the city for through traffic, have long since diverted such traffic onto bypasses since the expressways were creating air and noise pollution. It must be remembered that the Lyari Expressway is being built through the most heavily congested areas of Karachi. To understand what heavy traffic can do, one simply needs to talk to people living on Khayaban-e-Roomi. Since those areas of Clifton were opened to heavy traffic, people no longer sit and play cards on the roundabouts, trees have shrivelled and residents complain of resperatory problems and related diseases. The Defence Housing Authority, for very sound environmental reasons, has not permitted the Southern Bypass to be built through it.
The third reason given for the building of the Expressway is that it will reduce traffic congestion on city roads. Any one living in Karachi knows that the congestion on city roads can be more effectively reduced by other less costly and less destructive means. Karachi’s main corridors are broken and cannot be used for more than half their width; they have no footpaths so people are forced to walk on the roads; they are encroached upon by buses and trucks since there are no bus terminals, depots and cargo handling terminals; there are roads linking the corridors that were planned twenty years ago and have still not been built; there are traffic management issues which traffic engineering projects if implemented can solve; and above all there is the issue of traffic management. These comparatively small projects will bring far greater benefit to the city since they will not only ease traffic flow but will also benefit the pedestrian population and tens, if not hundreds, of Karachi neighbourhoods. The Lyari Expressway will not bring any of these benefits. It is a mega project which includes the construction of sixteen bridges and four inter-change flyovers in a length of sixteen kilometres while the rest of the city infrastructure lies in shambles. One can equate its building with a household that requires bread but opts for buying a Mercedes and as a result continues to starve. It smacks of the same vulgarity.
The fourth reason given for the building of the Expressway is that it will beautify the city and “sea water will get treated sewage water”. Presentations of the Expressway project have shown transparencies in which boats are floating on the river and other recreation facilities. This is a fantasy. The Lyari river is actually a sewage channel. In addition, a box trunk is being built in its bed with a massive ADB loan to channelise the sewage to the Mauripur Treatment Plant. After this is completed, theoretically, the river will be dry. But then, it is possible that the planners are not aware of this. Also, the river banks will be unapproachable since the designs show the Expressway to be protected. Even if it is not protected, pedestrians do not cross expressways. And then, expressways and recreation do not go together and there are many other ways of beautifying cities. In addition, in the opinion of many architects the expressway is a disaster in aesthetic terms. It’s a roller coaster supported on high walls when it flies over the existing bridges. Under passes would have been cheaper and less obtrusive and ugly. Usually for projects of this sort an aesthetic committee comprising of experts is appointed to review the project. In this case however, no such committee has been appointed.
The building of the Lyari Expressway should be seen in the larger context of the city in general and of the Lyari Corridor in particular. On either side of the Lyari Corridor between M.A. Jinnah Road in the south and Estate Avenue in the north, are the most congested areas of the city. Densities are as high as four thousand persons per hectare. There are no open spaces and collectively this area has no lung. In addition, this area contains the city’s wholesale markets and environmentally polluting industry, both formal and informal. It also contains warehousing and storage for the markets and industrial activity. Residents of these old Karachi settlements have constantly asked the government to shift the warehousing and industry out of their areas so that their environmental conditions can improve. Market operators also wish to leave (but have no option) since managing cargo handling and transportation in the narrow lanes of the old city is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible. The Lyari Expressway solves none of these problems of the inner city or of the neighbourhoods it passes through. On the contrary its building is congesting these neighbourhoods even more. This is because the businesses and homes that are being demolished are being relocated within the old neighbourhoods thus densifying and degrading them further.
If the military government wishes to do Karachi a favour, it should stop the construction of the Lyari Expressway. It should build the Northern Bypass and transfer the Dhan Mandi, Chemical Market and garbage sorting and recycling industry to the Northern Bypass. Naturally, the godowns, transport, related businesses and labour working in them will also want to shift. This shifting, if well planned, will improve the functioning of these activities, benefit the relocated residents and can be self-financing. The spaces vacated by these activities in the inner city can then be converted into badly needed amenities. Karachi will change. Traffic congestion will be eased and Karachi’s oldest areas will be rehabilitated.
At the same time, retaining walls should be built along the river and the river should be channelised. A lot of land will be recovered as a result. This land can be converted into a green space, a badly needed lung for a neglected and degraded inner city, a part of which is where Karachi began as a city and which contains the decaying remnants of its glorious architectural heritage.
The Lyari Expressway is a typical example of insensitive planning where a grandiose project is developed ignoring larger contextual realities; where physical results are more important than people and the environment; and where the megalomania of politicians and the fantasy of planners is satisfied. Karachi has had many such projects but they have not benefited the people or the city and many of them remain incomplete. It is high time we realised that planning is all about consensus building, and about people, their homes and employment, and that the vast majority of Karachi’s population consists of pedestrians, commuters who use public transport and who work and live in the informal sector which is the back bone of the city’s economy. We need to plan to benefit them. That should be our priority. And if we cannot do this then we will simply further fragment an already fragmented city. (By Arif Hasan, 08/07/02)
Lyari Expressway Karachi Evictions Update
Authorities demolished over 700 housing units and small shops in last one week. 4500 people render homeless and jobless. Children, women and elderly sitting on rubble for last one week under the harsh hot sun.
NHA accused of creating law, order problem
KARACHI,
July 4: Representatives of those who have been affected by the Lyari
Expressway Project have accused the National Highway Authority of
"disrupting law and order situation in Karachi" by carrying out
a demolition operation which, according to them , has no legal sanctions
and no respect for human values. Kindly send your concerns on this issues to the following authorities in Pakistan
1.
General Pervez Muharraf Fax numbers: 92 51 9207656 and 92 51 9270205
2.
Main Muhammad Soomro, Governor of Sindh
3.
Advocate Namatullah Khan, City Nazim Mayor of Karachi 4. Tansneem Ahmad Siddiqui, Director General Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority Fax No. + 92 21 9211272
5.
Ovis Ghani, Federal Minister for local Bodies Katchi Abadis
Lyari Expressway Karachi Horrifying Evictions Update 3 July 2002
Since 27 June 2002 the government has bulldozed over 400 residential and commercial units. See photos below: Out of these 400 evicted only 35 qualified government conditions to get alternative land. The resettlement policy is not transparent and government despite promises did not publish list of effected families. NGO and CBOs fears as past history most fake people will get these land for resettlement. The
government is planning to bulldozed over 25,000 housing units, 3600
shops/commercial units 50 mosques, 5 churches, 8 Mandirs, 10 schools, 38
clinic, 1 hospital, and 66 factories. All these destruction is being done
to make space to build proposed Lyari Expressway. Most city experts, NGOs
and government officials firmly believe the city does need this project. According to government/s resettlement policy only 14,000 housing units will get alternative land out side of the city. And rest will not get any alternative land or compensation
Sindh High Courts issued a stay order against this project and the case filed by the communities is still in pending in the court. As government lawyers were not attending the hearings the court extended this stay order for until decision of this case. The present evictions are clear violation of court's order in this regard.
Kindly send your concerns on this issues to the following authorities in Pakistan
1.
General Pervez Muharraf Fax numbers: 92 51 9207656 and 92 51 9270205
2.
Main Muhammad Soomro, Governor of Sindh
3.
Advocate Namatullah Khan, City Nazim Mayor of Karachi
4. Tansneem Ahmad Siddiqui, Director General Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority Fax No. + 92 21 9211272
5.
Ovis Ghani, Federal Minister for local Bodies Katchi Abadis
Eviction Alert Lyari Expressway Karachi Pakistan Government bulldozed over 300 housing and commercial units in Lyari River on 27, 28, 29 June and 1st July 2002. The operation is continued today and more demolition is being reported. The area is rounded up by the arm forces and bulldozers are being used to crashed houses. On January 21, 2002 started bulldozing settlements and other community establishment and over 1900 small commercial units were bulldozed, an estimate number of 9500 persons were working in these commercial units. Many poor families also used these small commercial units as residential purposes. On 15th March city government has resumed the bulldozing operation in Shershah. During 15 to 20 March the city government has bulldozed 67 factories and godowns. An estimated number of 8000 persons (Both men and women) were working in these factories and godowns. Later on government stopped evictions and formed a 9 member committee of experts to review this project but even before the committee could meet the government restarted evictions once again. These are the most brutal bulldozing operation ever seen in the history of Karachi. It is seemed like an army attacked on a foreign land.
Lyari Riverbed affectees stage sit-in, leaders arrested
A large number of affectees of the Lyari Expressway staged sit-in at Shershah on Thursday, to block the bulldozers moving towards their buildings as the City Government resumed the operation to remove structures impeding the Lyari Expressway project at Lyari Riverbed. The City Government anti-encroachments team - led by Senior Deputy District Officer (Land) Salman Faridi - managed to remove godowns and a residential unit on Thursday morning. However, the team had to stop the operation after the protesters gathered at the site. Police arrested some of the protesters, including Chairman Action Committee for Civic Problems Baseer Naveed, who was present at the site and was supporting the protesters to get the demolition of their residential units stopped. "I along with two other members of the Action Committee, Tariq Aziz and Noor Khan, are still detained at Shershah Police Station," said Baseer Naveed while talking to The News through his cell phone at 10.00pm. He informed that the city government demolition team had a list of 100 buildings to be removed during the operation on Thursday. But, he said, they wanted to demolish those residential units too, which were not even included in their list, which forced people to protest. Some of the protesters were saying that they were not given the alternate plots, asking to the city government team where should they take their families if their houses were demolished. Some of them, whose residential units had been demolished in the earlier phases of the operation, were saying that City Nazim Naimatullah Khan failed to fulfil the promise of giving them alternate shelter, leaving them under open sky. They said the City Nazim had assured them that the city government would take them into confidence while amending the route plan, prepared earlier by National Highway Authority. But, they claimed the operation was initiated on Thursday without any prior notice. They said President Pervez Musharraf had issued instructions that the affectees should be rehabilitated on alternative plots prior to demolition of their buildings but alternative plot has not been given to a single affectee so far. This scribe called at the cellular phone of the Senior Deputy District Officer (Land) of the City Government Salman Faridi to seek his department's version but he disconnected the line after six beeps, courtesy the Caller Line Identification (CLI). The News 28/6/02
Lyari Expressway Centre asks Sindh to construct Lyari Expressway The federal government has asked the Sindh provincial government to take up the responsibility of construction of the Lyari Expressway if the latter is not ready to allow the National Highway Authority (NHA) to collect the toll on the proposed project, sources divulged to The News. The sources said that the federal government put forth the suggestion in view of the refusal of the provincial and city governments to allow the NHA to collect the toll. In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Sindh, the Chief Executive's Secretariat said that the according to the NHA Act, in case of all federal roads constructed by the NHA, the Authority should have the discretionary power to collect the toll, the sources added. "The Communications Division says that the Sindh government was not ready to allow the NHA to collect the toll and in this case if the Sindh government's stance was accepted then it would create a precedent for other provinces. The sources said that the Communications Division had suggested that if the Sindh government did not accept the NHA's contention, then funds for the Rs 5 billion Lyari Expressway be shifted to the Sindh government and it should take responsibility for ensuring construction, pay back the allocated amount, as well as maintenance of the expressway. The federal government asked the Sindh government to examine the suggestion of the Communications Division and communicate its comments to the Chief Executive's Secretariat, the sources added. (By Moosa Kaleem The News 5/6/02)
Lyari Expressway Chronology of the activities
The Northern Bypass was proposed by the Karachi Master Plan 1975-85. If the bypass had been built, all port related traffic, which now passes through the city, would have been redirected through it to the Super Highway. Since this traffic consists mainly of heavy diesel vehicles, their bypassing the city would have helped in removing congestion and pollution in Karachi. However, the bypass, for a variety of reasons, was never built and over the years the volume of port related traffic has steadily increased congesting and polluting the city further. In 1989 a group of public spirited citizens proposed the Lyari Expressway as an alternative to the Northern Bypass. The Expressway was to be an elevated one built over the Lyari River from the port to Sohrab Goth. Subsequently, the local government changed its design and it was decided to build the Expressway along the banks of the Lyari River. Many professionals, NGOs and citizens of the Lyari Corridor, objected to the building of the Expressway. Their reasons for opposing the project are given in the appendix. Many public hearings and discussions were held on the two alternatives and in 1998 it was decided by the then Mayor that the Northern Bypass alternative was a better solution. After coming to power the present military government took important steps to undertake the building of the bypass alternative. However, in June 2000 it decided to build both the Bypass and the Lyari Expressway. Consultants to the Expressway project are on record that land will be reclaimed from the building of the Expressway and on this the effectees are to be rehabilitated. In addition, it has been stated, though not categorically, that the Expressway will not be used for port related heavy traffic (thus it will not be an environmental hazard) but that it will be developed in a manner similar to the Canal Bank in Lahore. Most of the previous objections of the opponents of the Expressway still stand. Karachi has a history of failed plans simply because the involvement, knowledge and considerable research work of various interest groups was not only not solicited but their advice was ignored. It is therefore important that the NHA plan is shared with the citizens, academia, press, and NGOs of Karachi and public hearings held around it before it is finalised. If this is not done then who will bear the blame if the Plan ends in yet another disaster for the city and for the effectees and projected beneficiaries of the project? URC also feels that the Lyari Expressway is not the priority for the city. The money that is being spent on it can be better utilised for improving the existing Karachi road network and completing the missing road links. Once immediate essentials have been developed, only then should we move onto projects that involve large scale dislocations. URC held several meetings with communities (which could be displaced) around Lyari corridor and providing them information on the current development of the project, so that these communities prepare themselves for lobbying with the government. On January 21, 2002 started bulldozing settlements and other community establishment and over 1900 small commercial units were bulldozed, an estimate number of 9500 persons were working in these commercial units. Many poor families also used these small commercial units as residential purposes. URC has initiated a campaign against these evictions and on the same day circulated the information to the NGOs working on housing and human rights through out world. This was followed by a letter writing campaign to the President of Pakistan and other concerned authorities. The city government was planning to demolish over 25000 housing units and 3600 commercial units. But due to a quick reaction from all over the world government has halted its bulldozing operation on 22nd January. The following is the chronology of the activities, which took place after-words: On 7th February held a forum on this issue at URC office, affected communities and NGOs express their concerns over this ill planned project. They raised serious questions related to the resettlement of the communities and transparency of the project. On 8th Feb communities has filed cases in the Sindh High Court against dulldozing operations. The Sindh High Court stayed demolition of settlement in some areas, which form path of the 16.5-km long Lyari Expressway, until Feb 13 and later on this stay order was extended up to 16 June. The order was passed by a division bench, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Zia Pervez, when these petitions seeking stay of the demolition work, filed by four petitioners. It is worthwhile to mention that the communities have contributed over Rs 3.0 million (US $ 50,000/-) to get legal assistance. URC has provided documents on national and international laws on housing rights and katch abadis to the lawyers fighting case for the communities. On 13th February a Jang Forum was held at ICN auditorium jointly organized by Daily Jang (a leading Urdu nation wide news paper) and URC. The City Nazim (Mayor), representative of National Highway Authority (NHA) and Project Director for rehabilitation of Lyari Expressway presented the details of the project. The City Nazim (Mayor), Naimatullah Khan has said that Lyari Expressway would play an important role in the advancement of city and citizens and no one is going to be harmed owing to this project, as those who have been requested to vacate their dwellings are being provided lands (80 square yards) and that every affectee is getting Rs 50,000 for making good the loss. The Chairman, Urban Resource Centre, Arif Hassan, however, disagreed and strongly criticised the project saying it was not going to serve the larger interests of the city, and that nobody knew whether or not it would be completed. He referred to various projects started in the past, which were later condemned to the doldrums. He said instead of solving the serious civic problems of citizens, the city government had planned to demolish buildings and houses that would make thousands of people homeless. In this forum the victims has raised a number of questions regarding the project and resettlement, but the city government chief Nazim (Mayor) and NHA were unable to answer these questions. On 17th February 46 under threat communities along the Lyari River belt formed an action committee under the name “Action Committee for Victims of Lyari Expressway” and held its meeting at Lasbela in Lyari Nadi. The committee has rejected government offer of compensation of Rs 50,000 and an alternative of 80 square yards outside the city limits. On 26th February URC and Hasan Aulia Village Welfare Society (one of the under threat settlement) has organized a tour of the journalists in the Lyari Nadi. The journalists visited various settlements to understand the extent of damage of poor communities. On 27th February URC sent a letter to the president of Pakistan, explaining concerns and proposals of the Urban Resource Centre, regarding Lyari Expressway Project. This letter says, “The Urban Resource Centre (URC) feels that a rehabilitation plan for those living within the Riverbed needs to be developed and implemented, before bulldozing their present houses and community establishments. However, it has a number of reservations and concerns regarding the governments’ plan for building the Lyari Expressway and displacing businesses and homes in an age of recession, unemployment, inflation and growing homelessness”. See details in appendix under title of “Concerns and Proposals of the Urban Resource Centre”. This also circulated to other concerned authorities, City Nazim (mayor), Town Nazims and Naib Nazims, Newspaper Editors, NGOs and CBOs. On 28th February a team of URC and community representatives visited proposed relocation sites of Beldia Town, Hawkesbay and Taisar Town. This visit revealed that the government has not even started demarcating the land where it plans to rehabilitate these people. The provision of civic amenities like road, water and electricity in these proposed sites will take over ten years. More over the Hawkesbay land is disputed and even though people have been issued allotment orders, no one will get an inch till the matter is resolved. In Beldia Town, most of which has already been encroached leaving a mere 20-25 acres. Where as third option of Taisar Town land has not yet been transferred from the Board of Revenue. On 3rd March a People’s Assembly was held at Karachi Press Club. It was jointly organized by Action Committee for Victims of Lyari Expressway (ACVLEX), Action Committee for Civic Issues (ACCI), URC and PILER. The gathering including over 3000 men, women and children feared to be uprooted shouted at the top of their voices and rejected the very construction of the project. Several rallies reached the Assembly from various settlements of Lyari Nadi. including SITE, carrying placards and banners. On the occasion the city Nazim (Mayor) endorsed the views of the federal government for building the highway said that affectees would be given alternate accommodation far from their present habitation. The City Nazim (Mayor), Naimatullah Khan was barricaded by huge audience at the Awami Assembly on Lyari Expressway. The affectees and speakers of the assembly criticized the City Nazim and stated that for the building of the Lyari Expressway, destruction of homes, businesses and social and physical infrastructure built by poor people over the last many decades has commenced. The assembly has rejected the demolition of houses and to form a human Chain on 23rd March. According to their announcement it would be a peaceful demonstration against Ill Planned Lyari Expressway. All men, women and children along Lyari Nadi would have to form a 16.5 Kilometre long human chain on Pakistan day to express their dissatisfaction on the expressway project. On 8th March first All Party Conference (APC) was held at Hasan Aulia Village in Lyari Nadi. The conference was attended by Deputy Chief Organizer of MQM and former provincial Minister for Local Bodies, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Member Central Executive Committee of PPP and Former Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly, Sardar Nabil Gabol, Sindh president of Baloch Rabtha Itfaq Tehrike Abdul Rauf Baloch, Leader of National Awami Party Wakel Khan Sawati, Chief of Baloch Ithad Tehrike Anwar Bhai Jan, representative of URC, leader of National Worker Party Faqir Mohammad Baloch, Chairman of Action Committee for Civic Problems Baseer Naved and others. All Parties Conference (APC) has expressed concern over the proposed Lyari Expressway Project, saying that it will completely destroy the centuries-old settlements, and urged the government to start Northern Bypass Project instead. Second All Parties Conference on proposed Lyari Expressway was held on 17th March at Haji Mureed Goth in Lyari Nadi. Third All Parties Conference on Proposed Lyari Expressway Held on 19th March at Iqbal Colony Tin Hati in Lyari Nadi. Fourth All Parties Conference was held on 28th March in Madina Colony Lyari Nadi. Fifth All Parties Conference was held on 7th April in Rehmatia Colony. The political leaders and representatives of civil society organizations in these APC conferences expressed similar kinds of concerns. On 10th March the city government has announced the President of Pakistan would inaugurate Lyari Expressway on 23rd March 2002. On 15th March city government has resumed the bulldozing operation in Shershah. During 15 to 20 March the city government has bulldozed 67 factories and godowns. An estimated number of 8000 persons (Both men and women) were working in these factories and godowns. The recommencement bulldozing operation has increased anger and disappointment with in the ranks of the communities. On 16th March the communities endorsed their ‘Human Chain’ call in their meeting. It was decided to form a peaceful demo against Lyari Expressway. All men, women and children along Lyari Nadi would form a 16.5 Kilometre long human chain on Pakistan day to express their dissatisfaction on the expressway project. On 20th March the City Nazim (Mayor) invited the Action Committee for talks. On same day preliminary meeting was held between Action Committee (ACVLEX and ACCI) and City Nazim advocate Nematullah Khan, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Shafiq Paracha and Town Nazims. The meeting informed the President of Pakistan General Perviz Musharaf will not inaugurate the project on 23rd March. The city nazim also informed the community leaders that the government will consider concerns of the communities and will arrange detail meeting after one week. The meeting made the following decisions: i. The city government will provide all details including plans, feasibility studies, estimates and environmental study etc. to the community leaders. ii. A list of affected families will be published. iii. The committee of the expert will be formed to review the project. On 21st March Action Committee for Victims of Lyari Expressway (ACVLEX), Action Committee for Civic Issues (ACCI) and URC was held at dosti office to their future strategy. The meeting decided to postpone the Human Chain Call as a goodwill gester. It was also decided to hold a press conference to explain their position on meeting with city government. On same day Action Committee organized a press conference at Karachi Press Club. Speaking at a press conference, Action Committee chairman Baseer Naved recalled the decisions of the meeting held with the Nazim. Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting, he said that in view of the assurances of the Nazim and decisions of the city government the Action Committee had decided to postpone its protest, scheduled for March 23, to April 2. On 25th April the city government has invited the community groups for the second round of the talks. The city government informed the community groups that the president would inaugurated this project on 27th April 2002. It was cleared that the city government was in no position to make any concessions or changes in this regards. President Gen Perviz Musharaf has inaugurated Lyari Expressway project on 27th April 2002. It was a surprise and unscheduled ceremony held in Karachi on Saturday late night. The Action Committee for Civic Problems, on the occasion of inauguration of Lyari Expressway, registered their strong protest by hoisting black flags all along Lyari River. Police, acting promptly, closed all entry and exit routes of different localities and rounded up 20 activists who were later set free. On 28th April the affectees stage a demonstration against ill planned Lyari Expressway. They were demanding changes in government's resettlement policy. On 2nd May the URC council held a review meeting and discuss its strategy. URC still disagrees with the concept of expressway project. It was decided it concentrate more on a resettlement plan for those who are living in flood zone. On 15th May the second round of talks of city government and community activists were held at city government’s office. City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, DCO, NHA officials and community leaders attended the meeting. It was decided that a committee comprising representatives of the city government, National Highway Authority (NHA), and affectees would be constituted to resolve differences over the Lyari Expressway project. 19th May a meeting of community leaders and NGOs was held at URC office to discuss the future course of actions. It was decided that community would prepare its proposals and present them to city government. URC also published a booklet (both in Urdu and English) and 6 Leaflets (handbills) containing information on expressway project and housing rights. These leaflets and booklet were distributed among communities in Lyari Nadi. Also circulated information to the press and journalists, a number of news articles and news items appeared in the newspapers on the basis of this information. URC kept inform on the development its national and international networks through e-mail circulation. Present status: Evictions have been stopped and government has promised changes in the project proposal. (By Muhammad Younus Urban Resource Centre, 28-05-2002)
Body to resolve Lyari Expressway imbroglio soon
City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Wednesday said that a committee comprising representatives of the city government, National Highway Authority (NHA), and affectees would be constituted soon to resolve differences over the Lyari Expressway project. Addressing a high level meeting at his secretariat, Naimatullah asked the NHA to remove reservations of the Town Nazims and affectees of the Lyari Expressway so that the project could take off. He said that the proposed committee would comprise three experts each appointed by the city government, NHA, and the affectees. The meeting, attended by the District Coordination Officer, Nazims of Kemari, Lyari, Site, Liaquatabad, Gulberg, Town, the Naib-Nazim Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, officers of the city government, NHA and Lyari Development Authority and representatives of affectees, discussed in details route maps, plan and other issues pertaining to the Lyari Expressway project. Representative of the affectees of the expressway, Muhammad Husain Mehnati and Basir Naveed informed the City Nazim that the plan of the project was drastically amended in 1995, including those areas in the route map which were not included earlier, which showed that it was done to facilitate one locality at the cost of the other. The General Manager, NHA, Abdul Haque, assured that the all faults and unjust amendments from the plan and design of the expressway would be removed following the cue of the quarters concerned. Naimat said that the residents of the Lyari Riverbed were living in the most unsuitable environment and the city government wanted to provide them better living environment. (The News 16/05/02)
Lyari Expressway Update 2 May 2002
Karachi: President Gen Perviz Musharaf has inaugurated Lyari Expressway project on 27th April 2002. It was a surprise and unscheduled ceremony held in Karachi on Saturday late night.
Earlier on 20th March 2002 government has promised to hold talks with affected communities if they postponed their protests against this project. The affected communities have postponed their protest campaigns and have been waiting for negotiations since 21 March. But no such invitation came from government side and nor government has provided the details of this project as it was promised. Suddenly on 27 April president came to Karachi and performed ground breaking ceremony of the project. Now the authorities says they will resume evictions soon and go head with this project.
The government did not make any changes to its resettlement policy. It has promised to give Rs 50,000/- and 80 square yards land/plot to 14,000 families.
Whereas the an estimate number of over 25,000 housing units could be displaced as result of this project. These housing units are occupied by over 70,000 families. The affected families would like to draw attention to the following: i. An 80 square yards plot will not be sufficient for their present family needs. As traditionally and culturally they have joint families and each house occupies 3 or more families presently. ii. The construction of a new house will cost Rs.350,000/- to 500,000/- (US $ 6,000 - 8,400). Whereas the government is providing only Rs.50,000/ (US $ 840). iii. The government proposed relocation sites are located far from their present job/work places. iv. It will take over ten years to develop basic infrastructure (i.e. water electricity, roads, sewerage, school etc) at the relocation sites. Their present houses have all basic facilities like water electricity, telephones, roads, sewerage, school and they have invested huge amounts of money to get these services. Beside these over 3600 commercial units (to be bulldozed which are providing employment to a large number of poor families) will not get any compensation or alternative land from the government. But most of city planners, NGOs and CBOs are still arguing that the city does not need Lyari Expressway. The Northern Bypass was presented as an alternative of this project is now also being constructed. The both projects (Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass) starts at same place and end same point and serve same purpose (to facilitate port related traffic to up country). It is worth while to mention the federal government has no financial sources to fund this project and now disparately looking for a external funding agency this purpose. Meanwhile Sind High Court has extend its stay order against bulldozing operation up to 3rd May 2002
President performs ground-breaking of Lyari Expressway, Northern Bypass KARACHI: President Pervez Musharraf said that with the progress achieved in the communication sector, not only all parts of Pakistan would be integrated with each other within next three years but the country would also be integrated with the Central Asian states. He was speaking as chief guest after performing the ground breaking ceremony of Rs 5 billion 16.6 km long Lyari Expressway and Rs 3 billion 56 km long Northern Bypass, at an ceremony held at the intersection of Mauripur Road and Mirza Adam Khan Road on 27th April 2002. The ceremony was largely attended, among others, by Federal Communication Minister, Lt Gen (Rtd) Javed Ashraf Kazi, Federal Information Minister, Nisar Ahmed Memon, Sindh Governor, Muhammedmian Soomro and Corps Commander, Lt Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi. The president, visualising the Pakistan's future in the communication sector, pointed out that in the next 3-4 years the Coastal Highway would be completed, all roads in Northern Areas would link Chitral, Hunza, Kaghan, Gilgit, Skardu valleys with each other. By that time the Northern Bypass would also have been completed and linked with the Coastal Highway and on to the Indus Highway, besides completion of Lyari Expressway, M-1 from Peshawar to Pindi, M-3 from Lahore to Faisalabad and M-4 from Faisalabad to Multan. Pointing out that no area will be left inaccessible, the president cited the example of Coastal Highway and the road being constructed from Gowadar to Turbat and from Turbat to Mand and said the whole area would turn into an integrated area. He said in the 3-4 years period, Pakistan would have three highways, the National Highway, the existing G T Road and the Indus Highway and when this whole network would be completed, there would come the real integration of Pakistan. Earlier, speaking on the occasion Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro said that today is a historic day for Karachiites as the work is being started on two very important projects which were lying in doldrums since years because of lack of interest on the part of previous governments. He said that construction of Expressway and Northern Bypass would help in the provision of basic facilities to people of Karachi. It will remove traffic congestion from city roads, reduce the ratio of accidents and bring pollution under control besides diversion of traffic load. In his welcome address, the Federal Communication Minister, Lt Gen (Rtd) Javed Ashraf Kazi said that it was a day of delight that President Pervez Musharraf is performing the ground-breaking ceremony of these two projects of great national significance. He said that both Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass would be completed within 30 months. (The News 29/04/02)
Lyari Expressway affectees hoist black flags The Action Committee for Civic Problems, on the occasion of inauguration of Lyari Expressway, registered their strong protest by hoisting black flags all along Lyari River. Police, acting promptly, closed all entry and exit routes of different localities and rounded up 20 activists who were later set free. Meanwhile, the affectees of Lyari Expressway staged a protest meeting at Kashmir Shah Colony, Akbar Road. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Action Committee for Civic Problems, Basir Naveed lamented that despite assurances by the city and provincial governments of consulting the affected population of Lyari Expressway before launching its construction, nothing has been done so far in this direction. "Ironically enough, the National Highway Authority, by making some amendments in the original map of the Expressway, has planned to render homeless more than 250,000 people, while as per 2001 plan, only 4,000 persons were expected to be shelterless," he added. Other speakers also pledged to continue resistance to the expressway until their problems were redressed. (The News, 29/04/02)
NHA ignores past studies on Lyari Expressway By Fahim Zaman Khan
KARACHI,
April 27: For most readers the images of a brigade of bulldozers, wheel loaders
and armored personnel carriers threatening unarmed neighborhoods may be
something out of a newsreel from the an action flick. But soon it may be a
reality, closer to home, as innocent men, women and children are threatened with
a similar fate in the heart of the city due to cold-hearted, indiscriminate and
wanton manner that we have decided to construct the Lyari Expressway. (Dawn
28/4/02)
SHC issues another stay against Lyari Expressway On a civil suit filed by 193 residents of Mianwali Colony on the Southern bank of Lyari River, the Sindh High Court has restrained the City government, National Highway Authority (NHA) and other defendants from taking any adverse action against the plaintiffs till further orders. The suit has been filed by Mst Khursheed Begum and 192 other people in which Karachi city district government and its DCO Shafiq-ur-Rahman Paracha, General Manager National Highway Authority Mian Abdul Haq, Nazim SITE Town, Project Director Lyari Expressway and others have been cited as defendants. The colony with 1,200 house is spread over 50 acres of land, is situated between Mewashah graveyard and Mewashah Bridge on the southern bank of Lyari River. The plaintiffs have pleaded that KDA had launched its scheme 44, known as Lyari River Development Scheme in 1986, which also envisaged construction of an elevated expressway in the bed of Lyari River. The said scheme did not affect Mianwali Colony, which was a Katchi Abadi at that time. Thereafter, on Dec 31, 1990, the elected council of the then Karachi Metropolitan Corporation adopted a resolution for regularisation of the colony and the colony residents were granted leases. The plaintiffs have also annexed all the lease documents with the main suit. It was further submitted that later the NHA took over the project and modified its design that brought Minanwali Colony in the alignment of its southern road. They sought declaration of the court that the colony was regularised and that the defendants should either modify the design of the project to exclude the colony from its alignment or pay the lease-holders the price of their land according to its market value. The government, in its reply, however, opposed the contents of the suit. The Additional Advocate General Sindh Suleman Habibullah submitted that the plaintiffs had obtained the leases through manipulation, influence and misrepresentation to protect their illegal constructions. He said around 1979-80 various governmental authorities had demarcated 500 feet danger zone in Lyari River and the plaintiffs trespassed the zone and set up the colony. He also refuted the statement that design of the project was modified. He said it was purely a technical project and its design could not be modified in the interest of land grabbers. He pointed out that there were multi-storied buildings and houses and submitted that there was no justification for investing in luxury houses inside the Katchi Abadi on the land of Lyari River. The suit would come up for further haring on a date to be fixed by the office of the SHC. CONVICTED: An ATC of the city convicted accused Dildar Ahmad, an activist of defunct Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in two separate cases involving sectarian killings and awarded him death penalty on three counts. His accomplice Muhammad Rashid was convicted in one case and sentenced to transportation for life. Both the convicts had opened fire on the people standing outside Hussaini Blood Bank in Soldier Bazaar and killed Muzafar Kirmani and Nazar Abbas. The ATC-I, headed by Syed Alay Maqbool Rizvi, convicted them in this case. Dildar was sentenced to death on two counts while Rashid was sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts. They were also sentenced to pay Diyat of Rs 175,000 to the legal heirs of each deceased. According to prosecution of the second case, Dildar was found guilty of murdering Sardar Ali Jaferi on May 15, 2001 in Gulshan-e-Iabal. He was awarded capital punishment and ordered to pay a Diyat of Rs 175,000 to legal heirs of the deceased. Judge Syed Alay Maqbool Rizvi held in the judgments that the prosecution successfully established its allegations against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt. (The News, 28/04/02)
Muttahida rejects amended plan of Lyari Expressway Muttahida Qaumi Movement has rejected the amended plan of Lyari Expressway and declared that the project would neither resolve the problem of heavy transport nor would help in improving the traffic system of the city. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Deputy Convenor Coordination Committee Dr Farooq Sattar termed the amendment to Lyari Expressway project as 'a conspiracy' of the land mafia and the concerned authorities to capture the prime land of the city and earn profit at the expense of national exchequer. He accused the establishment and land mafia for trying to create controversy regarding the project and demanded of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to take people of Karachi into confidence and satisfy who had reservations over amendment in the project. Farooq Sattar said Muttahida was not against the project but wanted not to change the original plan in the interest of the city and the citizens. He pointed out that 400 feet land was required in the original plan of the 17- kilometre expressway project but the authorities were acquiring 600 to 800 feet. He said his party came to know that authorities were acquiring additional land to sell it for use as hotels, shops, trade centres, petrol pumps and godowns while flats would also be constructed on the land. He pointed out that Rs 9 billion would be spent on this project while the government would repay Rs 6 billion as interest to the foreign bank, which provided loan for the project. He said the authorities would earn Rs 30 billion after the sale of this prime land for commercial purpose. He said the project would be completed in four years and added that there was no need for loan from foreign bank if federal government was providing Rs 2 billion per year for this project. He said payment of compensation of Rs 50,000 and 80sq yard plot was injustice with the affected people and pointed out that market price was paid to owners in Punjab for their land acquired for Motorway, Mangla Dam and Tarbela Dam. He said the authorities demolished leased houses in Pir Ilaahi Bakhsh Colony, Hasan Aulia Village, Liaquatabad and Usmanabad, while these areas were established 52 years ago when Pakistan was created. He said it was surprising for Muttahida that even the city government was not taken into confidence while deciding about the project and demanded of the regime to transfer this project to the city government and pay compensation of their land to the affected people according to market price. He also demanded initiation of Northern Bypass, Mass Transit Programme and Karachi Circular Railway projects. Members of the CC Zahid Qureshi, Farooq Ahmad, Liaquat Qureshi and Nawab Mirza were also present at the press conference. (The News, 24/04/02)
Lyari Expressway Sindh High Court extended stay order against demolitions up to 26th April When the petitions challenging
demolition of settlements to pave the way for the Lyari Expressway came up
before a division bench of the Sindh High Court on Tuesday , counsel for
PIB Colony Housing Society filed a rejoinder affidavit claiming that
allotment had been issued to the Society on October 1, 1948, for 99
years. (Daily Dawn 17 April 2002)
LYARI EXPRESSWAY: GOOD NEWS
(URC, 03/04/2002)
Lyari Expressway City govt postpones demolitions The City government has postponed the operation to remove structures impeding the proposed Lyari Expressway project due to non- availability of funds. Sources in City Government said that the federal government had promised to release funds for the operation but did not release any amount in this connection so far. The City government was earlier carrying out demolition operation at the Lyari Riverbed on its own expenses, however, now it was not possible to continue the work unless adequate fund was not released for the purpose, the sources added. (Daily The News 11/04/02)
Lyari Expressway Expressway design to be made public This decision was disclosed by Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan after a meeting with the representatives of the Action Committee for Victims of Lyari Expressway and Action Committee for Civic Problems as well as Karachi District Coordination Officer Shafiqur Rehman Paracha and a few town Nazims. Mr Khan said a new design of the project had been approved by the Karachi City Government and the NHA. The new design would be made public in a couple of days. The meeting decided that the survey procedure would be carried out under the supervision of the representatives of the people, army teams and officials of the city government. The lists of the affected people would be published and bulldozers would be used only after taking the affected people into confidence. The meeting resolved that no property would be demolished without making alternative arrangements and cash payment to the affected families while in such cases where property was leased in the name of the affected people all legal formalities would be ensured and compensation would be paid. The meeting decided that after Ashura (next week) a meeting would be held with the NHA which would be attended, apart from the city Nazim, by concerned Nazims, representatives of affected families and experts. The Lyari Expressway project, initiated by the KMC in 1995, was designed to cater for the needs of heavy vehicular traffic generated for upcountry from the Karachi port and from the three adjoining industrial areas. The government announced its decision last year to reinitiate the project on a priority basis. The project has been handed over to the NHA that has developed fresh plans for the project and the Frontier Works Organization has been selected asthe contractor. However, people living over the banks and the bed of the Lyari River are particularly perturbed by the project. The fact that for a limited number of heavy vehicles the NHA has decided to construct an extraordinarily wide three-lane each-side highway consuming more than 90 feet each side and has opted for 22 flyovers instead of underpasses below nine bridges and flyovers over only two originally planned is being resented by people. Experts maintain that the NHA is unnecessarily opting for four interchanges for the expressway. They add there is no requirement for dislocation of people at Lasbela and Liaquatabad No 10. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Action Committee chairman Baseer Naved recalled the decisions of the meeting held with the Nazim. Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting, he said that in view of the assurances of the Nazim and decisions of the city government the Action Committee had decided to postpone its protest, scheduled for March 23, to April 2. He said that they were not opposed to the project but were opposed to the way it was being implemented, affecting settlements as old as 200 years like Hasan Aulia Village, PIB Colony, an area in Liaquatabad where houses had been brought in alignment of the Expressway without any resettlement policy. (Daily Dawn 22/03.02)
Lyari Expressway: SHC stays city govt from ejecting Lyari riverbed shopkeepers Updated News: The authorities here resumed demolition operation on Wednesday 13th March and bulldozed a large number of commercial units. According to government sources, this phase of the operation will continue for next 5 days. Meanwhile another group 25 other shopkeepers of Shershah Market from Lyari river bed got stay order from High Court. A bench, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmad and Justice Ali Aslam Jaferi of Sindh High Court restrained city government on Wednesday from ejecting petitioner Fakharuddin and 25 other shopkeepers of Shershah Market from Lyari river bed till further orders. Admitting their petition for regular hearing, the bench issued notices to city govt, project director Lyari Expressway and others for March 20. The petitioners pleaded though Hawwa Ladani advocate that they had been doing business along the bank of Lyari River since long and were legal owners of the land but the respondents included their land in Lyari Expressway scheme and wanted to eject them from their shops without hearing their point of view. (The News 14/3/02).
Lyari Expressway Update: Further
demolition has been stopped and no demolition activity has been reported
since Friday 8th March. URC report The conference criticized the role of the federally-controlled National Highway Authority (NHA) for "creating the mess" by altering the original layout plan of the project and keeping a complete secrecy on the new design. The speakers said they were not against the project but wanted to ensure the protection of all settlements and leased colonies which were built in the outskirt of the Lyari River. Over a dozen representatives of political parties and NGOs attended the meeting which was organized by the Lyari Expressway Action Committee, Hasan Aulia Welfare Society and Anjuman-i-Ittehad Mianwali Colony. They urged the federal government to stop the NHA from dismantling old settlements and colonies and to desist from meddling in the city-related development projects, because, they said, "it negates the basic concept of provincial autonomy and the idea of transferring power at the grassroots level." MQM: Assuring the residents of Hasan Aulia Village and other affected people, deputy organizer of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and former mayor Dr Farooq Sattar said the NHA or any other federal agency would not be allowed to usurp the land of Karachi. According to him, the problem began when the federal government decided to hand over the construction work to the NHA, which, he said, was completely ignorant of the ground realities. The NHA had even kept the people in dark by maintaining a complete secrecy, he said, adding that "so far nobody knows about details of the project." Dr Farooq said an MQM delegation had already left for Islamabad to meet the President in this regard. PPP: Former deputy speaker of Sindh Assembly and a PPP leader Nabil Gabol said the expressway project had been approved by the PPP government in 1995. "At that time the project was designed in a way that it could not cause a large scale destruction of residential units," he added. The meeting was also addressed by leaders of Awami National Party, National Workers' Party, Qaumi Jamhoori Party, besides representatives of Baloch Ittehad, Baloch Rabita Ittefaq Tehrik, Urban Resource Centre, and Action Committee for Civic Problems. (Daily Dawn 9/03/03)
Work on Lyari Expressway commences without environmental assessment By Asadullah How the government violates its own rules is evident from the Lyari Expressway project, work on which has already begun without submitting an environmental impact assessment to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). According to the Section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, "no proponent of a project shall commence construction or operation unless he has filed with the federal agency an initial environmental examination". The very section further binds any proponent of a project to submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA) when the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effects and has obtained approval from the concerned federal agency. In 1989 a group of citizens proposed the Lyari Expressway as an alternative to the Northern Bypass, earlier proposed by the Karachi Master Plan 1975-85. The Expressway was to be an elevated one built over the Lyari River from the port to Sohrab Goth. Later it was decided to build the Expressway along the banks of the river. An EPA official said local governments were oblivious to the necessity of such a process. Environmentalists believed that the whole exercise of enforcing the very section of the law pertaining to EIA had been confined to private companies interested in oil and gas exploration in the interior of the province. "Since oil and gas exploration can jeopardise life, including wildlife, the companies, mostly off-shore enterprises, are asked to undergo a cumbersome exercise of getting their EIA approved after final public hearing as well," said an EPA official wishing not to be named. No such course was taken in case of Lyari Expressway, which is to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 billion in three years. Starting from Sohrab Goth and through 16.5 kilometres along both sides of Lyari River, it is designed to terminate at the Mauripur Bridge. Such a huge project will cause 14,000 residential units to be demolished but the Urban Resource Centre believes it ranges between 25,000-30,000. A high-level meeting of the Sindh government held on March 2 learnt of slight changes made in the conceptual alignment of the Expressway on 'technical grounds'. Sources in the provincial EPA office disclosed that the original lay-out plan of the Expressway must be finalised after reviewing IEE or EIA of the project as it would be encroached upon the riverbed, causing displacement of large human settlements. Protest over the amended designs led to the creation of Lyari Expressway Action Committee. In particular, the proposed lay-out plan and "meagre compensation" for houses is bound to cause further unrest amongst the old Karachiites. "We are not opposing the Expressway as per its old satellite map. The map amended in January 2002 is going to cause demolition of 7,500 houses instead of just 84 units in the Hasan Auliya Village, Mianwali Colony, and Jahanabad, in SITE Town-II," said Tariq Aziz of Hasan Auliya Village. "We are convening an all-parties conference on this issue on March 8." Violating environmental rules and laws on the part of government institutions has become a norm beyond accountability. Diesel-run government vehicles have been virtually given a license to pollute the city and no traffic cop can dare stop them from spreading environmental pollution. The Urban Resource Centre (URC) and 42 Lyari community groups opposed this proposal since the Expressway would pass through the residential areas of the city and would cause pollution. The URC has favoured Northern Bypass, which is being launched simultaneously. "On completion, it (Northern Bypass) will bring considerable relief to the city and will open up land where the much-needed storage, warehousing, and cargo terminals can be located, along with housing for their labour," Arif Hasan writes in his book, Understanding Karachi. Believing that the Northern Bypass would relieve the old city of congestion and perhaps pave the way for its rehabilitation, the URC had favoured it as an alternative to the Expressway. Opponents say that the Expressway would pass through the centre of the city, increasing environmental pollution, along with an already congested corridor and that's why expressways are no longer built anywhere in the world through city centres. Zahid Farooq of the URC said the dislocation of communities living along the Lyari corridor was not being carried out in line with the government's own housing policy announced in January 2001, which underlines the need for a master plan for the rehabilitation of the displaced people and that too in nearby localities. Experts interviewed clarified that they were not opposing the Expressway but the manner in which it was being executed "unilaterally and at times clearly ruling out any public participation in the process". (Daily The News 7/3/02)
Lyari Expressway The development business: the power to destroy lives By Najma Sadique 26/2/02 By virtue of being humans, people require a foothold for shelter, work, rest or whatever. So it is common sense that all people have an inherent right to the use of a minimum area for survival. Many live where their forefathers settled them. Even if they don’t own property through purchase, they are not intruders. What they live on is referred to as ‘state land’ although it is more correctly communal property as the state holds land only representatively. The right to continue to live where people have stayed for a long period, is mostly recognised by governments or at least was until recently. With increasing migration as people are thrown off their lands for whatever reasons, they put down new roots, mostly on city outskirts, in which the government has no current interest. Protection from harassment is obtained, if necessary, by bribing the police, functionaries and the land mafia. If they stay on for a given period, the plot they reside on becomes eligible for regularisation, and on payment of development and other fees, residents become recognised owners. But governments procrastinate. While they pour finances into middle-class residential areas, it rebuffs planned habitat development for the people who need it most the poor and ‘ordinary’ majority even though the economy is dependent on their labour and activities and would come to a standstill without them. Besides, being a regularised owner is not necessarily a guarantee against eviction, as has been demonstrated over and over again. In Lyari, ‘pucca’ lease-holders are now evictees. Because substantial government credit is a luxury made available only to a socio-economic minority, the poor and displaced seek sanctuary on unoccupied land. As the area fills up with others like themselves, they create their own essential services or attract providers. Families find new lives, children are born, local cultures take shape. As social and economic activities build up, the area attains commercial worth with the sweat and the cumulative strength of myriad tiny savings invested by these small entrepreneurs and housewives over years and becomes a market in its own right. In other words, the area has been developed by the people without any help whatsoever from the state. This is the point is when suddenly the authorities notice that ‘state land’ which some consider their personal fiefdom, is teeming with economic activity without functionaries having obtained any benefit. But then, governments always find room for ‘improvement’, meaning development by government tender, after unceremoniously kicking out ‘encroachers’, to be eventually replaced by white-collar occupants following ‘proper’ development. Not that it is any consolation, but this is the kind of development that has become routine in ‘developing countries’ execution of infrastructure and services seldom to the public interest, paid for by taxpayers, or foreign loans which in turn have to be paid off by citizens including the sweat of those who don’t appear on the registered taxpayer lists. Functionaries, contractors and concerned politicians, skim at least half the allocations. There is development, but not the kind needed, and none at all for 80% of the people. In countries such as ours, the bulldozer has become the symbol of state oppression of the destruction of both homes and lives. So much so that in another country, the Caterpillar corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and demolition equipment, is being sued because its machinery is being used by the government to do just that. In one fell swoop on a chilly January morning, the preparation of lunch and other meals at home, going to school, shopping in the bazaar, bathing a baby, washing of clothes, small children playing in the narrow streets, the arrangement of milads and marriages, the sharing of both happiness and tears in the muhalla and between neighbours, a bite at a tea-shop, and the evening congregation in homes when breadwinners, housewives and minors finally get together as families, were all suddenly put on hold in Lyari. Unlucky were those homes where a child was about to be brought into the world, or a life had left it. Lives and futures in Lyari came crashing down with homes. The police came in full force. It didn’t matter that the area throbbed with life. Mercilessly, 46 low-income settlements on either side of Lyari River were mowed down to rubble, as the suddenly homeless watched helplessly. It was part of a massive eviction drive was underway throughout Pakistan. Hundreds of homes have already been flattened not only in Karachi but in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta and Lahore as well. Well over 200,000 are planned to be kicked out in Karachi alone to build a flyover that is not even needed, while no investment is being made to attend to more pressing priorities. About a decade ago, some genuinely public-spirited people had brought up the need for a flyover over Lyari. But in ten years much has changed and been taken over by other developments. Firstly, the area has been rapidly developed by the citizens themselves. It is an entire township in itself, but perhaps because it is mostly ‘blue-collar’, it meets with contempt, and is conveniently dismissed as consisting of criminals, addicts and mafia, including by sections of the press. As if the elitist sections of town do not harbour the same, if with more class! Secondly, and very importantly, the Northern Bypass, a nearby flyover serving exactly the same purpose for which the Lyari Expressway was called for years ago, is already under construction. Adding the Lyari Expressway now would be akin to Nawaz Sharif’s superfluous motorway for his driving pleasure, when all that was needed was the repair and extension of the existing highway at a fraction of the motorway’s horrendous cost. The fact is the Lyari Expressway is no longer needed. The only reason left to build it can be profits that could accrue to land speculators, ‘developers’, construction contractors and functionaries. The money earmarked for it, say the communities, “would be better utilised for improving the existing Karachi road network and completing the missing road links. Once immediate essentials have been developed, only then should we move onto projects that involve large scale dislocations.” Thirdly, a highly workablel proposal had been made by the Municipal Government Task Force of 2001 that had satisfied the affectees as well, especially the ‘kabarias’ – garbage collectors and recyclers of used materials. Because of overcrowding in the Lyari area which had reached a density of 1800 per acre, many sought to be relocated, and the Task Force had identified acceptable landfill sites. Through this alone, 40% of the occupants would have voluntarily gone, almost halving the destructive job of shifting 200,000 people. Fourthly, as ‘compensation’ the government self-righteously announced an arbitrary Rs. 50,000/- along with a small plot elsewhere. But what is the true value of the property being taking over? Many residents have lived there for over 40 years and have invested in acquiring all amenities and building up their houses. Half a lac does not even cover a fraction of their investment. The current market price for the area is Rs. 500,000/-. -- ten times what is being offered. Besides, there is no water or electricity there, not even roads, in the proposed relocation area in Hawksbay. To top it all, Hawksbay is disputed land. It was ‘sold’ in its undecided state, several years ago, by the government to journalists who made payment for it, and now find themselves victims of what was probably a scam. Why the unholy haste in pushing an unnecessary Lyari Expressway? And the long-drawn official silence on the issue and careful avoidance of public debate even after the much-trumpeted local bodies elections when public consultation should have all the more been on the cards? After all, the authorities had an entire year provided by the President’s resolution to consult with all concerned sections, as required. Instead the residents were given three days notice to get out. -- As if entire families can find instant shelter in others’ homes ! On the 15th of January last year, some policy decisions were announced by the President of Pakistan with regard to the resettlement, regularization and upgradation of ‘katchi abadis’. Concerned land-owning (government) agencies were required to inventorize all katchi abadis that came into existence after 1985. It was laid down that the Provincial Governors were to ‘identify appropriate land, preferably within the cities and towns where the evictees of ‘katchi abadis’ could be relocated, by the same date and resettlement plans for these uprooted residents were to be drawn up by the end of June 2001. It wasn’t an entirely satisfactory plan because it failed to justify why ‘katchi abadi’ residents are exclusively targeted to be evictees, especially if alternatives exist. It however specified that the exercise of identifying settlements from amongst the pre-1985 katchi abadis ‘that needed to be relocated’ was to be completed by 28th February 2001; that the relocation of evictees was to begin by the end of June 2001 and ‘until that time, there were to be no evictions. The instructions were violated to the letter. The Resolution instructed that: “The Provincial Governors will constitute committees comprising representatives of all concerned to implement these decisions. The Federal Minister for Environment, Local Government, and Rural Development will coordinate with the Governors in this regard.” Unfortunately, the much-trusted Omar Asghar Khan is no longer around. Earmarked for bulldozing are 25,400 housing units that are home to 77,000 families or some 200,000 – 300,000 men, women and children. Also 3,600 commercial units which include 1,440 ‘kabaris’; 540 recycling units/industries; 360 godowns; 540 dhobis; and 720 small workshops, small shops, thallas, waste-sorting yards, furniture markets, flower shops, etc., according to the latest survey of the Anjuman-e-Tahafuz Kabarian. The government is trying to force evictee to a Baldia area where there is no physical or social infrastructure and no job possibilities. Life would have to be started from scratch. Grassroots representatives and the Urban Resource Centre pointed out that homes, businesses and social and physical infrastructure had been built up by the poor over many decades. Despite an ample time of a year provided by the Presidential Resolution, the government sat on its haunches and took no action. Nor was any rehabilitation plan for the affectees developed. The authorities feel no compulsion to explain why not, and the federal government has made no move either to take them to task or to even stop the violation of both human and civil rights. When questioned by Jang Group reporters, Karachi’s Nazim-e-ala Naimatullah Khan was deaf to the affectees stand and claimed that Rs. 5 billion was being put into Lyari Expressway project. Why such a fortune was being put into a duplicate project when there were far more urgent civic needs he did not explain, although he denied it would come from foreign loans. The source little difference, since either way the taxpayer ultimately has to pay. Whoever the present local bodies are representing, it excludes these 200,000 victimised and others like them. With nothing democratic about their behaviour, the local bodies are going the way of Basic democrats and others of their ilk that followed. As the Urban Resource Centre points out, Local councillors and officials are not an alternative to representatives of community organisations and interest groups. In the Lines Area Redevelopment Project councillors were involved and the results have been disastrous both for the city and for the people who were supposed to be the beneficiaries of the Project. After all, the 185 million square yards to be seized from Lyari even at the cost of several hundred thousand nobodies, is too mouth-watering a prospect to pass up when land values go up to Rs 15,000 per square yard even for ‘informal possession.’ The Nazim also promised that the entire area would be converted to parks. Parks for whom, after the area is emptied of humanity? Parks at the cost of people’s survival? And when most of Karachi proposed parks tend to end up under concrete?
To the President, on a Presidential Resolution Excerpts from NGOs and CBOs appeal to the President -- The government of Pakistan has committed itself to the global plan of action of Habitat II, in 1996, which recognizes the right to adequate housing, condemns forced evictions and encourages a humane way of dealing with poor squatter families. These demolitions violate the international covenants that the Government of Pakistan has signed. They also violate national laws and policy statements of the Government. Letters to Main Muhammad Soomro, Governor of Sindh and Ovis Ghani, Federal Minister for local Bodies Katchi Abadis came to no avail. In the hasty solitary talks between community and government which was otherwise a failure, the communities demanded among other things that transparency – a tall order -- be ensured in this process, that affected families be resettled in the same area in the remaining land along the Expressway (the government is considering selling it to builders for commercial purposes, which should not be allowed); and to raise the compensation money up to the actual current value – all have introduced basic infrastructure like water supply, sewerage, electricity etc.) Purely government surveys would heighten the controversy. Affectees want surveys to be carried out in conjunction with and approval of local organisations and interest groups. Similarly, a Steering Committee of such representatives should supervise and help implement allotment and relocation. Rightly demanded are all accounts related to the relocation process to be published every quarter and available to the public at large. A system to prevent speculation and land use change, which is not based only on administrative controls, was called for to prevent the market from exploiting the poorer sections of the affectees. (Daily The News International 26/2/02)
Lyari Expressway case Bulldozing operation further stayed till March 7, 2002 A division bench of Sindh High Court extended stay till March 7, 2002 regarding halt of bulldozing operation conducted by Karachi City Government for construction of Lyari Expressway. The bench, comprising Justice Sabeehuddin Ahmad and Justice S Ali Aslam Jaffery, adjourned the hearing of four petitions till March 7, 2002 for want of time. The petitioners Sultan and four others, residents of PIB Colony Co-operative Housing Society, residents of Mianwali Colony and Kausar Naiazi Colony, filed petitions with the SHC challenging anti-encroachment operation as their leased residential and commercial units were coming within the proposed route of the expressway. The petitioners stated that the City Government started a massive operation to remove encroachment from Lyari River Bed for the construction of Lyari Expressway from Sohrab Goth to Mauripur bridge by demolishing their houses and valuable commercial premises without payment of adequate compensation according to the market value of land and structure even without serving any prior notice to them. Some of the petitioners challenged the demolition notices issued to residents of different colonies by the City Government. The petitioners pleaded that their houses were duly leased and that no leased house could be demolished without the consent of its owner. They prayed the court to declare the proposed action regarding demolition of valuable property of the petitioner as illegal and of no legal effect. The court would now take up this matter on March 7, 2002. Daily The News 21/2/02
Evictions along Lyari Expressway
By Noman Ahmed Usually such displacements- appropriately termed as evictions - affect the poor, helpless and politically-marginalized communities. Once the state machinery sets out to undertake a project or programme to that effect, demolition of property, destruction of houses/residences and dislocation of communities becomes the natural outcome. It is ironic to note that foundations of developmental project are laid on the debris of the dwellings, businesses and occupation outlets of the hundreds of very poor people. From the road or bridge widening schemes to dams construction; creation of transit terminals to water headworks and from communication networks to express ways, the same process is repeated. Most recently in Karachi, the Lyari Expressway Project is undertaken on the same premise. This project was conceived around 1989 by a group of citizens as an option for relieving the load of transport in the inner-city district of Karachi. It was proposed as an elevated transit way on Lyari river culminating into Sohrab Goth. This plan was presented to the then the KMC/ Sindh government officials who accepted it in principle. However citizen groups and some professionals raised serious concerns about its construction which was based on contextual research. Eviction of communities, businesses, educational and social facilities; anticipated rise in the atmospheric pollution level; lack of possibility of creating cargo/truck terminal spaces; already proposed and initiated project of Karachi Northern Bypass (as a parallel project to the Lyari Expressway itself and inappropriate location of congested Sohrab Goth as the terminal point of the expressway were some of the key concerns cited against the initiation of the project. However, despite the logic, in June 2000, the government decided to construct the expressway Recently the construction activity began by evicting the settlements on the existing Lyari River. On 21 January 2002, with the help of law enforcing agencies, the bull dozing began. The government is offering Rs50,000/- as compensation and a small piece of land outside the metropolitan limits. According to government's estimates, the displacement drive will demolish 11964 housing units, 42 religious places (mosques, churches, mandirs) and 1035 shops/workshop/factories. However the community surveys and studies conducted by the Urban Resources Centre (a research oriented NGO) anticipate at least three times the damage calculated already by the government. In all, it is expected that about 200,000 people will be finally dislocated. 18000 children will have their education disrupted due to dislocation. Many families will lose their livelihoods. The Lyari Expressway is a typical case in respect of settlement and evictions and raises many issues worth considering. One, the entire project has been undertaken in a totally non-transparent manner. Details of the project are not disclosed to the common people, even to the directly affected persons which raises concerns about the honesty of purpose of the implementing authorities. Two, the design of the project envisages an unnecessary large width of the expressway. It is reported that the proposed width of the Expressway at Shershah is 860 feet while it is only 460 at Sohrab Goth where it is bound to culminate. It is feared that this extra land is being re-claimed in order to make room for high density high rise real estate development to benefit the builders and developers. Even the city nazim has shared this fear of the communities with the federal government / National High Authority. Three, the economic fallout on the affected persons is not at all accounted for. Presently the average cost of each dwelling unit of 120 sq. yds is estimated as Rs500,000/- since they possess infrastructural connections also. However the compensation paid is only Rs50,000/- and the plot of land allocated is far away at the edge of Baldia town where provision of infrastructure is yet to be done. Also the rupture in the occupation pattern of the residents, education of the children and related aspects are not addressed. Four there is no distinction made between a leased property and illegal occupation. Several community residents - who reportedly possessed valid lease documents - have also been treated like the so-called illegal occupants. The matter is sub-judice in Sindh High Court which has granted stay order up-til 13 February 2002. Five, the entire startup of this approach is in violation of international and national conventions to which Pakistan is a party. The Habitat Agenda which was presented and unanimously approved in the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in 1996 in Istanbul re-affirmed the universal commitment to full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing. It was recognized as a compulsory obligations by governments to enable people to obtain shelter and the protect and improve their dwellings and neighbourhoods (Habitat Agenda, 1996: UNCHS).On another occasion in 1997 the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (UNCESR) adopted a resolution against evictions. In conformity with these important UN resolutions the successive governments in Pakistan gave assurance of adequate and appropriate shelter to each and very citizen of the country. In stark contrast to these commitments, it is observed that evictions of the existing settlements continue to proceed unabated. The foremost impact of evictions is a colossal loss to the community investments which is like a deathblow to the poorer cross-sections of the society. The economically disadvantaged groups of our society can only afford to invest in homes as their only lifetime asset. If it is razed down without any appropriate compensation, then such communities / households never recover from the economic backlash caused by such acts. It so happens that when these poor people invest their hard earned savings into upgrading their shelter, the administration comes with bulldozers to demolish their hearths? This act, which is usually ill-planned, badly timed and ruthlessly executed, is in total disregard of the codes of social justice. It is estimated that the evictions of settlements for Lyari Expressway may cause a cumulative loss of over Rs.2 billion to the poor who reside in such settlement. The immediate outcome of evictions is the enhanced shelterlessness. It is a problem which the government agencies have failed to solve. None of the eviction drive was able to offer a suitable resettlement location for people to reside. The presently offered choice of plots in Baldia Town is expected to be no different. Thus the evictions only add gravity to the overall issue of shelterlessness by destroying people's abodes. Evictions display the practice of social and economic injustice which is rampant in our society. It is a usual case that the development projects begin causing destruction of poor people. Seldom it is observed that the houses and property of affluent and powerful are touched. For instance, many illegal high-rise structures have been built in both planned and unplanned areas of the city. However since powerful people and lobbies were behind such construction activities, no effective action was ever taken against the builders involved. Psychological disturbance that results due to the evictions is yet another key factor. The people who experience eviction undergo a terrible trauma which adversely affects their social behaviour and economic performance. Children and women are also badly affected which change their social and economic orientation. The issue of eviction focuses many fundamental aspects. It raises the primary question about the validity of development. The concept of development needs to be redefined. That is to say it has to be established what is development and for whom the development is actually targeted. If by creating a development project a few people are benefited at the cost of a large number of people then the whole concept of such development has to be challenged. Similarly if a development project simply generates a short-term gain at the cost of infinite misery to a settlement and its inhabitants then development needs to be realigned. The other important question is of equal rights. If eviction and displacement of population becomes justified on legal and administrative grounds then it has to be made applicable for the entire city and its people irrespective of political influence and connection, socio economic status, performance and relationships. (D-E&B-V, 18/02/2002)
Lyari Expressway The Bulldozing Operation will soon restart despite stay orders from court |
.
In last one week over 1500 houses were demolished. 
