KARACHI, June 22: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has stressed the need for regular and effective monitoring of the entire water supply system from Indus and Hub sources , besides various pumping stations in the city, to check contamination and streamline the supply as per the World Health Organization standards.

Presiding over a meeting held to discuss measures to check water contamination and address environmental issues on Tuesday, he also issued directives for water testing in congested localities and Katchi Abadies, particularly during the ensuing rainy season to avoid spread of water-borne epidemics.

The nazim also directed the concerned CDGK authorities to conduct tests of vegetables cultivated in the Malir River bed, Gutter Baghicha and other areas, besides testing the milk of buffaloes, allegedly fed on polluted and toxic water.

The meeting, which was attended by DCO Mir Hussain Ali, Environment Secretary Shujat Ali Qarni and EDO, Sanitation and Water, Brig Iftikhar Haider, decided that regular testing of water, before and after chlorination, would be carried out at different points, including KWSB pumping stations.

It also decided to carry out random tests of water samples from congested localities, particularly during the rainy season and to ensure strict enforcement of WHO standards of water supply.

The KWSB, along with Sanitation and Water Group of Offices, CDGK, would create an industrial framework to involve experts and would utilize the available water testing facilities of the Karachi University, HEJ institute and PCSIR, in collaboration with Sindh Environmental Protection Agency.

It was also decided that water samples from Malir and Layari rivers would be tested to assess that whether these were fit for human and animal consumption or not. Besides, a survey of land in Malir River bed and Gutter Baghicha would also be conducted.

The nazim issued instructions for removal of cattle pens from the banks of Malir River. He directed the officials concerned to launch an awareness campaign to check use of contaminated water, besides activating the Contamination Complaint Cell in the KWSB. -APP