Nehr-e-Khayyam (Urdu: نہر خیام), situated in Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan, is a water channel originally constructed as a stormwater drain.[1]
| Nehr-e-Khayyam | |
|---|---|
| Nehr-i-Khayyam | |
 View along the channel from east to west. | |
| Location | Clifton, Karachi |
| Coordinates | 24°49′30″N 67°01′48″E / 24.82502°N 67.02993°E |
| Type | Channel (Stormwater Drain) |
| Primary inflows | Raw municipal waste water |
| Primary outflows | Boat Basin |
| Max. length | 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) |
| Average depth | 3 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Features and location
editRoughly 10-feet-deep, the channel is approximately two and a half kilometer in length, half exposed to the open air while the other half is covered, overbuild by road and buildings.[2] Stretching from Bank Road at Khayaban-e-Iqbal to Khyaban-e-Saadi, the channel is linked with the sea, connecting through Boat Basin. The water flow of Nehr-e-Khayyam is bidirectional: during low tide, water moves from the ground to the sea, while during high tide, it reverses course, flowing from the sea back to the ground.
Development
editDespite its original purpose of draining rainwater into the sea, and first plans as a 'recreational zone' in the 1970s,[3] Nehr-e-Khayyam has, over the decades, become a focal point of urban interest for environmental reasons.[4] The channel is plagued by heavy pollution, filled with garbage and sewage, a stark contrast to its location in the densely populated and upscale neighbourhood of Clifton.[5][6] Numerous efforts have been made to address the pollution and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area.[7][8] However, these endeavors have been marred by challenges such as broken contracts, unclear responsibilities, and financial discrepancies, resulting in unresolved legal disputes awaiting adjudication in courts.[9][10] Beyond issues of pollution and degraded water quality, scientific studies have highlighted the pervasive presence of bacteria within the channel, all of which eventually flow through the Chinna Creek into the Arabian Sea.[11]
References
edit- ^ Hassan, Arif. "Karachi Rains Drainage Issues Solutions". Scribd. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Orangi Pilot Project, 84th Quarterly Report" (PDF). International Water and Sanitation Centre. December 2000. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Anwar, Farhan (15 September 2013). "Renew and repair: To arrest urban decay, one plan to breathe life into Clifton". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Masood, Tooba (30 April 2018). "Call for cleaning Nehr-i-Khayyam, Boat Basin". Dawn. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Mughal, F. H. (6 February 2020). "How to achieve clean-up of Karachi's Nehr-i-Khayyam". Dawn. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Ahmed, Vaqar (27 November 2018). "Stream from Hell". Newsline. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Mandhro, Sameer (5 June 2021). "Nehr-e-Khayyam stews in filth as plan to overhaul hits snags". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Murad gives go-ahead to turn Nehr-e-Khayyam into picnic spot". The News International. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Cowasjee, Ardeshir (10 September 2006). "Nahr-e-Khayyam". Dawn. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Nehr-e-Khayyam Karachi: Hearing of illegal allotment of amenity plots adjourned". Business Recorder. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Enam, Syed Faaiz; Qureshi, Humaira; Qureshi, Sohail A. (2011). "Sampling bacterial biodiversity from a highly contaminated stream flowing through a densely populated urban area in Karachi" (PDF). Department of Biology, LUMS School of Science & Engineering. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
See also
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