KARACHI, May 26: A high level meeting held at the headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, decided that since the KWSB could not take over hydrants due to technical constraints, the same would remain under the control of the Rangers. This was announced by Managing Director Brig Iftekhar Haider of the KWSB and Col Zafar of the Rangers at a joint press conference here on Thursday.
They pointed out that the Rangers had been managing the affairs of nine hydrants in the city since 1999. In October 2004, the Rangers made a request to the Sindh government to hand over this responsibility back to the KWSB.
Eventually, a meeting was held in the office of the chief secretary where it was decided that the responsibility of the hydrants would be transferred to the KWSB. In this regard, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan, Brig Iftekhar Haider and officials of the Rangers and concerned departments held talks several a times to effect the change-over in a smooth manner and to avoid inconvenience to people in this regard.
In the meantime, the Rangers requested the city government that the change-over should be effected phase-wise and in the first phase, control of the Muslimabad and LSR hydrants be handed over to the KWSB.
According to Brig Haider and Col Zafar, the KWSB decided to close down the two hydrants which could have caused problems to people and, therefore, another meeting was held at the Rangers’ headquarters on Thursday (May 26).
They said the meeting decided that only LSR hydrant would be closed down and the areas getting water supply from it would now be receiving water from other hydrants. They said that the closure of LSR hydrant would be effected in phases so that water supply was not affected.
They declared that those creating an artificial shortage of water would be dealt with an iron hand. For the purpose, the Rangers have constituted special teams which would impose fines on the tankers operators found charging a higher rate than the prescribed rates. The contractors indulged in such practices would be blacklisted.
The two officials pointed out that due to the prevailing heat-wave in Karachi, use of water had increased. Moreover, owing to disruption in power supply, the timings of hydrants had to be cut down which was resulting in water shortage.
They said that with immediate effect, certain steps were being taken to overcome the problem. In this regard, they stated that the number of water taps at hydrants was being increased, water supply timings were being increased, and the quantity of water being supplied to consumer was also being raised. They said that there was no shortage of water in Karachi. —APP
WATER SHORTAGE: Various parts of the old city area and Baldia Town on Thursday remained in the grip of an acute water shortage, adding miseries to the residents of the water-starved localities in the current hot and humid weather, adds our staff reporter.
The worst-affected localities included Ramswami, Bhimpura, Nanakwara, Kharadar, Mithadar, Lines Area, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, parts of PECHS Block 2, Korangi No 33-C, 33-D, 33-F and its industrial area, Baldia Town’s Madina Colony, Guldad Shah Road, Nurool Islam Road, Sarhad Road, Mianwali Mohalla, Tipu Sultan Road, Gauharabad, Swat Colony, Hazara Chowk, Shamozai Mohalla, Baloch Mohalla, Lasi Para, Muslim Mujahid Colony, Ghaus Nagar, Shah Faisal Mohalla, Afridi Colony, Sarhad Colony and Ittehad Mohalla.
Residents of the affected localities of old city complained that they had been experiencing water shortage for a whole week.
