KARACHI: Sindh to seek foreign aid for water schemes
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, July 21: The Sindh government may seek support from foreign donors and the private sector in regard to schemes needed for improving the quality of potable water throughout the province. The Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Environment and Alternative Energy, Muhammad Noman Saigol, said this at a press conference on Thursday.
The adviser said the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency was already working on a scheme aimed at analysing the quality of water. It would submit a report to the government so that more practical measures could be taken for providing safe and pollution-free drinking water to the people of Sindh.
He said the Sindh government had already provided Rs1 million out of Rs4 million allocated for the water survey scheme in question.
Under the scheme’s first phase, water samples had been collected from all 18 towns of Karachi. And according to initial reports, the quality of water in five to six towns was found unsatisfactory from the point of view of scientists, he added.
After completing the survey in Karachi, similar ones would be undertaken in Hyderabad and Sukkur as well.
He said the water supply network in the city was not up to the mark and it needed additional infrastructure and skilled manpower to overcome the challenge of safe and equitable water distribution.
Despite all hue and cry and claims by the authorities, people living in the Baldia, Orangi, Malir and Liaquatabad towns and Society area were not getting sufficient amount of water, he added.
He said the water issue needed resolution with joint strategies evolved and implemented by all organizations and bodies concerned.
He specially referred to the situation of Baldia Town to which, according to him, he was a frequent visitor.
He said the situation pertaining to water supply and other civic facilities in Baldia Town was the worst of its kind, and there was a need for overhauling the amenity system meant for the area.
On this occasion, he mentioned that his department and the SEPA authorities wanted to work for supplying safe and quality water in line with international standards, but it was not getting support from government officials, particularly from the water board officials.
He warned that if officials did not come up with a positive gesture, he would report to high-ups for action against them.
Responding to newsmen at the conference, Mr Saigol said that despite efforts and justifications, the Sindh environment department was not being given due place in the government’s lists of priorities.
He said the department and SEPA were short of staff, finances and facilities, which needed the attention of the provincial and federal governments.
During the last 10 months, Sindh had not been provided with funds for various projects approved by the federal government, while on the other hand, necessary staff including field inspectors had also not been appointed by the Sindh government, he remarked.
However, he pointed out that his department would continue working for reduction of air, noise and water pollution in the city and other parts of the province.
He warned polluters, including the tanneries, transporters, etc to check their practices and turn environment friendly otherwise action would be taken against them.
He also expressed concern over the delay in the activation of an environment tribunal in Karachi, and remarked that the federal government should look into the matter as it had become difficult to implement things in the absence of legal support.
