Around 60% of Karachi's population lives in low income, informal settlements known as ‘katchi abadi’. The Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) has transformed sewage systems in these communities and, in doing so, has challenged regular development approaches. It sees these approaches, which are very technical and overly-dependent on government and donor support, as treating poor communities as objects, rather than drivers, of development.

A report [1] for the UK International Institute for Environment and Development has explored how OPP has expanded from a focus on the katchi abadi to become an important voice on issues related to sewerage, drainage sanitation and informal settlement upgrading across Karachi. According to the report, OPP has achieved credibility over years of rigorous mapping and documentation. Its model of low-cost sanitation gives residents the responsibility for building sanitation infrastructure. Infant mortality rates have declined dramatically.

OPP rejects all form of subsidy, believing it leads to dependence, increases costs and causes waste. When a community contributes towards a project, costs are immediately cut. To ensure its staff are driven by ideals, not financial reward, OPP salaries are lower than those of other NGOs.

[1] Pervaiz, A., Rahman, P., and Hasan, A. (2008). Lessons from Karachi : the role of demonstration, documentation, mapping and relationship building in advocacy for improved urban sanitation and water services. (Human settlements discussion paper series. Theme: water ; 6). London, UK, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). 99 p. Download here

Related news:

• Pakistan, Karachi: city being supplied with contaminated water, Source South Asia, 08 Dec 2008;
• Pakistan: mixed results from Citizen Report Card on water and sanitation, Source South Asia, 20 Aug 2008

Web site: Orangi Pilot Project - Research and Training Institute (OPP-RTI)

Source: id21, 01 March 2009

Tags: participatory management, sewerage, south asia, storm drainage