KARACHI, Dec 14: The KWSB in its ongoing campaign against illegal hydrants and commercial/industrial connections has disconnected 447 water supply connections, thereby saving four million gallons of water per day.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, KWSB Managing Director Brig Iftikhar Haider said that the campaign which was continuing in Baldia, North Karachi and SITE towns would shortly be launched in Landhi and Korangi towns as there were over 2,311 illegal commercial and industrial connections and 93 illegal hydrants and most of these illegal connections had been taken from the KWSB's main lines.
Asked what measures were being taken to ensure that the disconnected lines might not be reconnected unlawfully, Brig Iftikhar Haider said that he had already suggested a couple of steps for the campaign - disconnection of power of all illegal hydrants by the KESC; cancellation of lease of all those plots where such hydrants exist.
He said that the nazim, who had agreed with the suggestions, might be issuing a notification in this regard. Besides, the KWSB officials concerned have been asked to identify and take action against such illegal connections or else they would be taken to task, he said.
He further said that the Sindh government had also been requested officially to appoint a judicial magistrate and allow the KWSB to have its own police stations as these measures would help the water utility organization to take action against illegal connections and defaulters in the most effective manner.
Reiterating that the campaign has already enabled the KWSB to divert the water supply to the water-starved localities of Baldia, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Manzoor Colony, he expressed hope that with the disconnection of all the illegal connections, the KWSB would be able to improve the water supply position of various other water-deficient pockets.
Recalling that the campaign had been launched on the directives of President Musharraf, he said that since the KWSB's drive against illegal hydrants and illegal commercial and industrial hydrants enjoyed full support of the chief minister, local government adviser, city nazim and DG Rangers, it would succeed in bringing an end to the menace of illegal connections and streamlining the water distribution system of various localities.
About Pak Colony's hydrants, Brig Haider termed these hydrants 'source of causing water-borne diseases' and said that an action against these underground hydrants would be taken in the mid of January because they were playing havoc with the lives of people by selling unhygienic water to several localities.
Asked when the KWSB's hydrants which are causing extensive damage to roads will be closed down, he said that the hydrants could only be closed down after taking over their control from Rangers. He said that this process might take around three to four months.
LYARI: Referring to Lyari's water distribution system that has been reportedly being manipulated by residents and their local leaders, the managing-director said that the KWSB with a view to ensure equal water distribution in each and every locality of Lyari - which was supplied 13 million gallons of water per day - would manage the valve operation of the locality in cooperation with Rangers from Dec 16.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply at Dhabeji's pumping stations, he said, the KWSB had planned to set up its own grid station of 35 megawatt and negotiations in this regard were underway with the KESC.
Referring to a recent inspection of a major hospital's underground water tank, which was reportedly containing unhygienic water as it was not cleaned for the last several years, he appealed to both the government and private sectors hospitals and offices to ensure that their underground tanks were cleaned periodically so as to ensure that the water being consumed was safe.
