4 minute read
3. NARRATIVES
Orangi nala Gujjar nala
Manzoor nala Malir river
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- GOVERNMENT -
The governmental narrative is to engage into a Urban master plan of widening the nalas, in order to erase the nala encroachment from solid waste and be able to absorb the amount of water streaming down in case of flood.
Gujjar nalaGujjar nala Manzoor nala Manzoor nala Orangi nala Orangi nala
• Solution •
Erase encroachment in and along the nalas. In August 27 of 2019, the record-breaking rainfall which led to unprecedented urban flooding and a near-collapse of its infrastructure. Subsequently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a judgement directing the Sindh Government and the NDMA to clean up Karachi’s major stormwater drains. Then, in February 2020, the government of Sindh initiated a large-scale anti-encroachment operation along the Gujjar and Orangi Nalas, in accordance with the Supreme Court order of August 2020. The anti-encroachment operation was based on a Global Navigation Satellite System Survey that identified structures required for demolition by flying a drone over areas impacted. Then, these structures were assigned unique ID numbers and percentages that delineated how much area was required for demolition. The ensuing anti-encroachment operation saw the large-scale displacement of residents and the demolition of thousands of homes across low-income housing settlements in Karachi.
2. NARRATIVES
WIDENING OF NALA’S
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation plans for WIDENING THE NALAS
Gujjar nalaGujjar nala
Manzoor nala
• Solution •
- Solution of Nala widening -
2.7 billion PKR.s (115 million €)
> 150000 m² demolished
> 5.000 homes
> 50.000 people evicted
> 16.000 households
2. NARRATIVES
BEFORE WIDENING We made a general section of the morphology of the nalas before the widening, we can observe very narrow ‘sidewalks’ on which children play, adults rest and communities gather.
The dumping of waste and the sewage end up in the nala, people living beside it make difficult the cleaning of the nala and lack of ecological awareness makes people ignore the well-being of the nala.
2. NARRATIVES
AFTER WIDENING We also made a general section of the morphology of nalas after the widening, we can observe the added space around the nala, after the demolishions and/or evictions.
We can also conclude that nala will be wider, but not higher, what could cause overflowing in times of flood.
The issues of solid waste is also not taken into account, therefore perpetuate the dynamic of dumping waste into the nala, as Karachi lack solid waste management infrastructures.
The Karachi Bachao Tehreek undertook a research and data collection initiative to challenge the premise of the anti-encroachment operation and explore its consequences in material and social costs to the affectees. This was a collaborative effort between activists, trained researchers working on the issue, and residents of the communities who had in-depth knowledge of the areas affected.
2. NARRATIVES
CIVIC CONCERN
- No resettlement and rehabilitation. - No site designated to relocate. - No resettlement and rehabilitation.
- No site designated to relocate.
- Housing demolition endanger livelihood, safety and social relations. There are no municipal plans for resettlement and rehabilitation. The government has not designated any sites for affectees to relocate. In paying residents a fixed amount for rent for https://karachibachaotehreek.org/ two years, the government assumes that residents will be able to arrange alternative housing for themselves. The cost of acquiring land and constructing a house has not been accounted for within the compensation package. Residents should arrange alternative housing from themselves.
In a city where a majority of the population does not have access to affordable housing, rendering people homeless without adequate compensation will marginalize them further. Moreover, the amount fixed as compensation is based on the assumption that affectees have the financial means to relocate themselves. A uniform compensation amount also does not take into account the varying needs of multiple members of the households based on age, gender, dis/ability, health conditions, etc. Based on our survey, an estimated 12.789 women and 20.980 children will be affected, along with 2.058 elderly people above the age of 65.
NEW NARRATIVE
From previous research and findings, we conclude that there is not only one truth or perspective in this topic.
We understand the interests at stake in both narratives and commit to design a new way of collaboration that will not only respect but also benefit these interests on the short- and the long-term.
We take position as mediators and technical assistance for the citizens of the Gujjar Nala, personally engaging into understanding the different narratives and create a new one.
This new narrative consists in showing by design the advantages of collaboration between scientific entities, governmental bodies, NGO's, technicians, activists and informal communities in order to create a project that could translate the multifactorial situation into architecture that provides a middleground solution to the different narratives.
