KARACHI, April 11: As the handing over of hydrants to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is being delayed on the part of the rangers, it is creating hurdles in the implementation of a city government decision of closing those hydrants which are responsible for causing extensive damage to main thoroughfares and which are creating hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic.

Sources in the CDGK said although more than five months have elapsed since a high-level meeting had decided to close at least five, of the KWSB’s 10 hydrants, following getting their control back from the Rangers, no progress has, so far, been made despite the fact that top officials of Rangers had also agreed to hand over the control of the hydrants back to the KWSB.

The task of monitoring and managing the affairs of the KWSB hydrants was assigned to the rangers in early 2000 when water supply to the city from Hub dam came to an end in 1999.

The meeting which was held with the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, in the chair and was attended, among others, by then district coordination officer, Mir Hussain Ali, KWSB managing director, chief engineers, had decided to close all those hydrants of the KWSB which are, on the one hand, responsible for destruction of a number of main thoroughfares and, on the other, creating obstacles in the flow of traffic in the wake of frequent movement of tankers drawing water from them.

The CDGK had initially decided to close five hydrants which are situated at North Nazimabad’s Sakhi Hassan, Federal B’ Area’s water pump, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and the LSR (Low Supply Reservoir) hydrant, located behind Civic Centre. The CDGK had also decided that the KWSB would retain the hydrants at Muslimabad, North-East Karachi, Malir and Hub.

However, the CDGK/KWSB has not yet been able to implement its decision as the Rangers have not yet handed these hydrants back to the KWSB.

During a visit to different localities where the KWSB hydrants are situated, one can see that frequent movement of tankers drawing water from the hydrants had played havoc with a number of main roads and major streets, situated in their periphery. The tankers were also creating hindrance in the flow of traffic.

Such a situation can be seen on main University Road, near Gulshan Town Municipal Administration’s office, New M A Jinnah Road, in front of Islamia College, Dadabhoy Nauroji Road, near Sakhi Hasan traffic intersection, Federal B’ Area’s water pump traffic intersection, Malir, near Jamia Millia, etc.

Presence of the hydrants in the localities have not only caused extensive damage to roads but were also responsible for creating hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic.

Besides, the presence of hydrants in these localities have become a source of nuisance for residents as the tanker owners indulge in rash and negligent driving. Residents of different localities opined that there is no justification of having hydrants in residential areas, especially when a hydrant is not meeting the water requirements of the locality concerned.

“Whether is it logical to sell or supply water through tankers to the residents of water-deficient pockets of Defence, Clifton, Mehmoodabad, PECHS and other far-flung areas from a hydrant which is situated in a residential area, behind Civic Centre,” asked an elderly person of Gulshan-i-Iqbal.