But the land mafia, allegedly in collusion with the Land Department of the City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) and with patronage of Pak Colony Police Station, has hampered the development of the project.
Out of public amenity area, spreading over an area of 1,017 acres, 537 acres have been encroached by the land grabbers. Contrary to the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations that plots like Gutter Baghicha can only be utilised for common public welfare, the open space in the Gutter Baghicha is the classic example of the local administration.
During the past three decades, Gutter Baghicha, was a dump of trash and garbage, where vegetables were grown using toxic wastewater, emanating from 2,200 factories of the Site, and sold in the city.
While the CDGK claims that it has "open land," in Site Town, it has yet been able to clear the encroachments.
Rather with passage of time, more land of the Gutter Baghicha is being encroached and unauthorised constructions negate the CDGK claims.
Besides, illegal constructions are causing sanitation problem as sewage from large parts of the city is accumulating in the Baghicha.
Shehri-CBE has demanded of the CDGK to take immediate steps, in collaboration with the provincial government, to develop Gutter Baghicha and establish a public park with the facilities of playland for children, internal water recycling plants, parking area, food kiosks and communication kiosks particularly.
Moreover, the Baghicha could also developed as the first botanical garden of the country, to be beautified with flora and fauna, study and research centre on flora and fauna and creation of artificial lakes, providing a habitat for migrating birds, Moreover, the road in front of Baghicha, from Love Lane Bridge to north Bara Board needs immediate attention of the CDGK for necessary developments.