KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani on Wednesday blamed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for accumulation of rainwater on roads and streets in Karachi.

“The KMC is responsible for cleaning 38 stormwater drains in the metropolis. The municipal services provider was paid out 50 crore rupees against its demand of 120 crore rupees,” Saeed Ghani said while addressing a press conference flanked by Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister (CM) for Information, Law and Anticorruption, Barrister Murtaza Wahab in Karachi.

Lashing out at Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, he said the mayor cried foul about lack of authority. He asked why he did not perform under the authorities he enjoyed. He said the provincial government wanted to resolve issues in coordination with all the stakeholders.

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“The Sindh government assists the KMC and district municipal corporations in cleaning stormwater drains. The DMCs are responsible to clean 200 small rainwater drains in the city,” he said.

The local government minister said prior to rains he had asked the mayor Karachi about how many stormwater drains had been cleaned of garbage, to which he had responded that tons of them had been cleaned while a few were left.

He admitted that rainwater could not be removed from roads and arteries in one day. He said most of the main arteries were not closed for vehicular traffic.

Due to incessant rain for two days in Karachi, life had come to a standstill. Most parts of the city had plunged into darkness. Roads had been inundated with rain water and sewerage resulting in clogging vehicular traffic. Cellular and internet services had also been badly affected.

At least 17 people were killed in rain-related incidents after heavy rain in Karachi.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had on Tuesday sought a report from the K-Electric over deaths as a result of electrocution and power break downs in Karachi during rain.

The NEPRA had expressed reservations over KE complaint centers’ not responding to the consumers’ calls. It wondered that why the electricity providing company did not take precautionary measures despite predictions for rain. The regulatory authority also directed it to take immediate measures to restore the electricity to the megalopolis.