29 October 2004	Friday	14 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 28: The managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Brig Iftikhar Haider, on Thursday expressed concern over private hydrants running on about 100 illegal commercial water connections in the city.

The board, he said, would soon form special squads to launch a vigorous campaign against illegal connections throughout the city.

Speaking at an Iftar at the KWSB Officers Club, Brig Haider, accused the Nazims of union councils and councillors of providing illegal water connections.

He said he had brought the issue to the notice of the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, and the latter has asked him to identify such Nazims and councillors so that appropriate action could be taken against them.

Regarding the shifting or closure of some of the KWSB hydrants being run by the rangers, he said the process of shifting would begin after Eid.

A decision to this effect was taken recently at a meeting held with the rangers director-general in the chair. The plan envisages phased shifting and closure of the KWSB hydrants, he added.

He, however, did not identify the hydrants which would be shifted. In all, there are nine KWSB hydrants, and all of them are being managed by the rangers.

About the K-III project whereby the city is expected to get an additional 100mgd by December 2005, he said work on the project has nowadays slowed down owing to some procedural delays in providing the required number of pipes by the defunct KDA Pipe Factory.

He, however, hoped that the matter would be sorted out shortly as the City Nazim has asked the city government's executive district officer (works and services) to take prompt measures in this regard.

"In fact, flow of funds for the federal government- funded K-III project is no more a problem as the government has already provided 2,580 million and has recently approved another 426 million for the project," he added.

About the system-strengthening programme, he said the plan envisages provision of pipelines in those water-starved localities where water from K-III would be supplied and leakages in the pipelines would be plugged.

The programme is in the final stages of completion and funds would also be provided by the federal government.

The KWSB deputy managing director (Planning) Shahid Salim, DMD (Technical Services) Israr Zaidi, DMD (Revenue and Resource Generation) Syed Akhlaq Hussain, chief engineer (water distribution) Asudomal, Manager K-3 Misbahuddin Fareed and other senior officials were present.