What is wrong with our Sukkur city

By Muhammad Shahid Mughal A friend of mine asked me a question, is this city or hell? Seeing high rise buildings without parking, damaged roads, no proper walkways, running traffic and pedestrians on same lane, encroachment on both sides of road by hawkers and property owners, heavy traffic jam, severe pollution, fighting between drivers and pedestrians and abusing each other and system. My friends question did not surprise me as every resident of Sukkur city is asking the same question from each other, lament on the situation and poor governance. People spend hours and hours discussing this awful condition of the city and at the end up with big sigh - wish one day our city looks like other gorgeous city in the world. Not sure when it will be possible, when our city will have a better environment where people could play, works live and enjoys the quality of life. Sukkur is third largest city of the Sindh province, with population of 850,000. It is a main hub of business activities of Sindh.

Being Urban Services Area, city attracts people from whole region for health, educational, employment and business opportunities. Indeed, Sukkur is blessed with air, water, river and land, rich history and strategic location. Unfortunately, improper planning and lack of will have distorted the picture of whole city, presenting like concrete jungle, which has created great frustration and disappointment for its residents. In fact within a decade city expanded incredibly and property prices are rocketing, a simple apartment price at Queens Road, Bunder Road or in a society will be between 20 to 60 lacs. Old buildings are knocking down and rebuilding into high-rises. However, irrational planning and designing have created alarming situation, as four to ten stories high rise building established on narrow roads considering without parking need fire fighting arrangement and proper ventilation system. Queens Road, Mission Road, Dhak Road and Bunder Road portray such an irrational and unsustainable planning. Eighty percent built environment is based on mixed land uses, which has created a serious parking, noise and air pollution and unhealthy problems. Mega housing projects approved without

conducting Traffic and Environmental Impact assessment, analysing the availably of proper drainage, electricity, sewage and water etc eventually which cause sever electricity outrage and drainage and sewage problem in the city. For example, Sukkur township located at highway, by the time of approval, no environmental and traffic impact were considered by planning agency. I believe when housing scheme will be fully developed, terrible traffic and environmental issues will occur and the purpose of highway will die and cause a great headache and mental stress for the residents of housing scheme and surrounding area. There is no walkway for pedestrian in the city, if any space is left, that has encroached by property owners and hawkers. Commercial area and markets without proper parking including Clock Tower, March Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Shahi Bazaar, Shaheed Ganj, and Ghaziabad is presenting very annoying and terrible situation for shoppers. These markets occupy by rickshaws, cars, delivery carts and vans do not leave any space for pedestrians and shoppers. Noise and air pollution have created sever health problem, including skin disease, eye allergy, asthma etc. There are no proper planning standards, land uses and

zoning bylaw. High rise buildings have been approved by unqualified and unskilled professionals in the planning agencies. There is no updated long-term statutory plan like Municipal Development Plan or Area Structure Plan, which provide clear guidelines and direction for at least next 10 to 20 years planning horizon of city growth. Planning and development agencies like Municipal and SBCA Sindh Building Control Authority formally called Town Planning Department is not equipped with qualified planners, statutory plans and approved bylaws. There is no public say in the planning process, as plans have been developed and implemented on administrative and political basis. There are no proper standards where housing, schools, hospitals and offices should be built and also maintain the grandfather development. Such improper planning has distorted the whole beauty of the city, hampering the quality of residents life. In fact, sustainable development cannot be possible unless proper, affective and efficient planning and its true implementation is ensured. Recently February 18, 2011, Government of Sindh has declared Sindh Building Control Authority, including Sukkur, but the SBCA

has no teeth for development control. There are no proper planning standards, land use map and bylaws and qualified planners who develop statutory plans and implement the long range planning. The government should seriously consider some steps to ensure sustainable development. The planning agency should develop: Long term statutory plan, including Municipal Development Plan and Area Structure Plan, for long term policies in order to ensure scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being communities. The time horizon of plan should be twenty years and revised every five years. Develop land use and zoning bylaws so that orderly and efficient development could be ensured and unhealthy development could be discouraged. In order to make the planning process transparent, efficient and accountable, planning agency should constitute advisory committee including heads of department- Taluka Municipal, DCO, transportation, Public Health, Education, EPA Environmental Protection Agency, Parks etc so that the long-term plans could be developed and development permit issued by comments and feedback

of stakeholders. Planning process should be defined with time framework and general public should have access of information. Public should engage in planning process through open house, workshop and presentations, so that the public feedback and comments could incorporate in the plan and respect their wish list. Plan making process and planning application process should be defined and disseminate to the public For development permit application, planning agency should install the advertisement board on the site to inform public and invite objections. Development permit application should clearly state processing time line, application fee and available for public when apply for development permit or subdivision. Planning and development agencies should appoint qualified planners in planning and development departments. I truly believe that improper planning and mismanagement are not such issues which relates to poverty and lack of funding but poor governance and lack of will. It is just a matter of right planning, good governance and implementation which will not possible without coordination and strong relation among planning agency, all stakeholders and general public. Public

should realise their right and constitute community league in each neighborhood / Mohallah which can collectively express their concern to planning and development agencies. I just believe nothing is impossible, so we all have to realise our rights, raise our voice for better planning of our city where our generations could live, work and play and grow in healthy environment. Home | National More Sharing ServicesShare|Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on linkedinShare on stumbleuponShare on emailShare on facebook_like|