KARACHI, April 27: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has taken to task the KWSB and KESC authorities for their failure to provide relief to the people who were facing frequent power breakdowns and acute water shortage for the last many days.

Presiding over a meeting on Tuesday to review growing public resentment for want of response from officials concerned, the governor directed the authorities to draw contingency plans to meet the situation.

The governor described the incidents of violence in Baldia Colony, Liaquatabad and F.B. Area, where people came out on roads to protest against the attitude of the KWSB and the KESC after being denied water and power as alarming. "It is beginning of the summer, what would happen in June and July at the peak of hot season?" he asked.

The governor said water was basic necessity of life and if in a particular locality water supply turn came after 10 days and for some reasons if that turn was lost too, how could the people of that area meet their water needs for 20 days.

He refused to accept explanations given for the water and power crises, and directed officials of the two utilities to take immediate steps to redress public grievances. He said in case of emergencies water should be supplied through alternative means like tankers and in case of power breakdowns, electricity should be restored in the minimum possible period and mobile transformers should be used for immediate relief.

The governor, who was assisted by adviser to the chief minister on local government Waseem Akhtar, besides his principle secretary Brigadier Akhtar Zamin (retired), directed the KWSB chief to reduce gap in water supply from 10 days to five and increase pumping time from 10 to 16 hours as an immediate relief without affecting water supply to other areas until arrangements were completed for regular supply.

The governor also directed them to carry out a zone-wise screening of employees from top to bottom and said that all those functionaries who had been performing their duties in a zone for over three years should be reshuffled and action should be taken against those found involved in illegal practices.

The governor said the Pak Colony pumping station which was closed six months back, should be reactivated by rectifying its fault, while the Shershah pumping station should also be made fully operational.

The process of laying water pipelines for Khuda Ki Basti should be expedited as at present water was being supplied through tankers to the area. Likewise, the governor added, measures should be taken to supply water to katchi abadis located in cantonment areas.

The governor drew the attention of the KWSB authorities towards general complaints of leakage, illegal connections and illegal diversion of the 12-inch dia water supply line meant for residential areas to industrial areas.

He asked what action had been taken against the people involved and why outstanding water charges of Rs23.6 million against New Sabzi Mandi had not been recovered so far.

He directed that all illegal hydrants should be closed and action be taken against those running those hydrants for stealing water from KWSB lines. Dr Ibad also asked DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali to revive emergency centres in all the 18 towns of the city in view of the hot summer so that people could contact officials for immediate relief.

Regarding power supply position in the city, the governor directed the KESC to make standby arrangements to meet extra electricity demand on the occasion of 12th Rabiul Awwal, particularly at Nishtar Park, Kakri Ground, Liaquatabad, Rizvia Colony and other places.

The KWSB, which was represented by its MD Shahid Saleem and DMD Mohammad Suleman Chandio, assured the governor that the water supply situation would be improved and the gap in supply would be reduced to five days from next Tuesday with increased pumping hours.

Mr Chandio said that city required 650mgd of water daily against a supply of 550mgd. The KWSB officials said that a 48-inch dia pipeline was being laid from COD Hills to Baldia Colony and with the completion of the K-3 project water supply situation would further improve.

They said in three to four sectors of Baldia Colony there was no provision of water supply from pipeline and water was being supplied in those areas through tankers on a rotation basis.

Adviser to chief minister Waseem Akhtar pointed out that besides shortage of water, the main problems were water distribution, involvement of UC Nazims and manipulation by water board staff who were involved in creating an artificial water shortage.

The KESC, which was represented by Brig Tariq Saddozai, accepted the fault on the part of power utility in repair of transformer in Liaquatabad. He gave the background about removal of fault and pointed out that whenever any power supply line tripped, the KESC had to resort to load shedding.

He said at present Wapda provided 1,500mw, while 500mw were supplied by other sources which made it a very tight situation. This situation could not improve until Hubco was linked with the KESC, he added.

Recalling that tenders had already been floated for linking Hubco with the KESC, he said even after the two were linked it would take two years to make the system fully operational. He said there were 102 transformers in the city and out of them 84 were overloaded. He said 10 more transformers were being installed in the next two months which would provide relief in the summer.

Brig Saddozai said the KESC was also working to install 12 more grid stations. However, he said at present land for installing only four grid stations was available, while the city government had promised to provide land for three grid stations.

Brig Saddozai said 12 mobile transformers were available with the KESC to meet emergency need. He said in every KESC zone three transformers were provided to restore power supply in the area where any transformer was burnt.

Rangers Deputy Director-General Brig Masood informed the meeting that water supply through tankers was only two per cent of the total. At present 11,000 tankers being used to supply water. He said for domestic use the rate of tankers had been fixed at Rs275-350 depending upon the distance, while for commercial use the charges had been fixed between Rs300-400 per tanker of 1,000 gallons.