22 November 2004	Monday	09 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 21: Tankers drawing water from at least 60 private hydrants are playing havoc with public health in water- starved localities, as most of these hydrants are selling subsoil unhygienic water after mixing it with the water they are illegally getting through KWSB pipelines.

Although most of these hydrants are located on either side of Lyari River bank and thus fetch subsoil unhygienic water, owners of such hydrants never bother whether the tankers drawing water from them are selling it for drinking use or industrial/ horticultural purpose.

A visit to such hydrants show that even green-coloured tankers which are meant for supplying drinking water are also drawing water from these hydrants despite the fact that most of these hydrants have put up boards stating that the water is only for industrial/ horticultural use.

It has also been witnessed that drivers of green-coloured tankers after drawing water from the illegal private hydrants park their vehicles in the vicinity of KWSB's hydrants and thus give an impression as if they are selling water taken from the KWSB hydrants.

It may be pointed out that in accordance with Sindh High Court's ruling, only green coloured tankers can supply water for drinking purpose while the pink coloured tankers are meant to supply water for industrial, commercial and horticultural purposes only.

Sources in the city government's health department said that as a matter of fact mostly owners of private hydrants operating in the city usually avoid getting licence for selling their hydrants' water for drinking purposes as under the bye-laws they are required to get their hydrants' water tested periodically from some reputable laboratories.

Though the governor and the chief minister have repeatedly ordered the authorities concerned to eliminate all such illegal hydrants, an action in this regard is reportedly being delayed by the officials concerned owing to some uncalled for pressure being exerted on them.

Admitting that the KWSB has identified at least 60 such hydrants, which are not only located on either side of Lyari River bank but have also managed to get KWSB lines through fraudulent means, sources in the KWSB said that 26 such hydrants are located in Baldia Town alone, followed by 11 in North Karachi, eight in SITE Town, seven in Gadap Town, five in Saddar Town, two in Korangi and one each in Orangi, North Nazimabad and Gulshan-i-Iqbal towns.

Giving further details of these hydrants, they said that out of total 26 hydrants in Baldia, two are located in Gulshan-i- Razi, six in Sector-8, four in Sector-4, four in Sector-4/I, two in Sector-2, six in Sector-4/D and one each in sectors 4-H, 8-C, 4-D and 8-A.

Eight such hydrants in SITE area are located in the jurisdiction of Union Council No 1 and Orangi's hydrant is situated in Baloch Parra, near Islam Chowk. In Saddar Town, three hydrants are situated on Hiranand Qaimsingh Road (Union Council No 7) near Zoological Garden, one in Dolikhata behind Coast Guards Headquarters, and one on Nishtar Road near Garden's Mazar Area.

Korangi's two hydrants are situated in Ibrahim Hyderi Village and one such hydrant in North Nazimabad Town is located in Sector 15-B (Miskeenabad). In North Karachi Town, seven such hydrants are located in sectors 11-D and 11-E and four in different houses of Sector 16-B.

Out of seven hydrants in Gadap Town, one is situated in Aliabad near Surjani Chowk, another near football ground, one near Javedan Cement Factory, one in Mianwali Colony, one in Afridi Colony near Reta Pahar and two in Ayub Goth. In Gulshan-i-Iqbal, one such hydrant is located near Yasinabad bridge.