[sustran] Re: FW: EVICTION ALERT APPEAL re Expressway in Karachi

[kisan mehta]

Dear Paul and Sustran Colleagues,

The condition of poor communities of LYARI NADI
in Karachi, Pakistan is an example of the alienation
suffered by the poor in every country of the world.

The government and the rich want all facilities like
expressways but do not want to pay the cost of
developing infrastructure.   The idea of setting up
towns on the route of the expressway to cover up
the high cost of building expressways puts
additional burden on the community, majority of
whom are poor. And there is no body to take up
their case.  Even the environmentalists and so
called community workers also need facilities
for their comfort.

Quite often the government construction agency is
not left with any money to build the towns etc and
the rich were never told to bear the costs,  So the
burde comes to the poor. About half of 165 km
length of Mumbai Pune Expressway was opened with
lot of funfair.  The last one year experience has shown
that even the recurring costs are not covered.  Nobody
can say as to when satellite towns will come up.

Conditions in Pakistan are no better. Yet the authorities
do not drop expensive programmes.  Uprooting citizens
from their moorings creates a feeling of alienation
and that leads to strife btween people. Best wishes.

Priya Salvi and Kisan Mehta

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Barter <geobpa at nus.edu.sg>
To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 2:29 PM
Subject: [sustran] Re: FW: EVICTION ALERT APPEAL
re Expressway in Karachi



 EVICTION ALERT APPEAL FROM POOR COMMUNITIES OF LYARI NADI (river) IN
KARACHI, PAKISTAN.
Update 28 January

Talks between government and community leaders were failure. Government is
not interested in further negotiations on this subject and justifying its
actions through state powers.
>
 During the talks the communities presented the following demands;
>
 1. Ensure transparency in this process, exhibit the plan and
hold citywide forums to discuss this issue.
>
 2. Form a committee, which prepare a resettlement plan. Ensure proper
participation of victims in this committee.
>
 3. Resettle all effected families in the same area in the remaining land
along Expressway; (note government
presetly is considering selling this land to the builders for commercial
purposes.
>
4. Increase the compensation money up to the actual
value of the properties
>
5. Develop a timeframe and cost for resettlement plan.
>
 All these demands are rejected and the bulldozing operation
will resume any time now.
>
 Meanwhile communities have released their update survey results of
effectees;
>
>  - Housing units        2540
> - Total number of families    77000
> - Total population    203200 (inc 54 male & 46 females)
> - Shops/commercial units   3600
> - Religious places    146
> - Schools                 110
 > - Total number children,
Who will lose heir final exams this year  20,000
>
> (All these settlements have basic inrastructure like water supply,
sewerage, electricity etc.)
>
> Now the communities (who are now losing their faith and hope) have no
choice except to take law in order in their hands. But the most of
communities still believes the talks and negotiations are only way out to
this issue. They are spending all nights in chasing the city government
reprehensive for talks.
>
> Efforts are being made to bring the government on talk table; your appeal
faxes are helping a lot in regard. More faxes can further delay the
bulldozing operation. Also send a copy of your fax to URC Karachi for follow
up. We are also giving a copy of your fax to communities, who are highly
grateful for your support.
>
> For more details please visit web site www.urckarachi.org
>
>
> Regards
>
> _____________________________
> Urban Resource Centre
> 3/48 Mualimabad Jamal uddin Afghani Road off Khalid Bin Walid Road Karachi
74800 Pakistan
> Tel 92 21 4559275 Fax 92 21 4384288
> E-mail urckhi at hinet.net.pk
> Web site www.urckarachi.org
> and www.achr.net
>