KARACHI, Sept 7: The Sindh government on Wednesday decided to take measures to control pollution in water. At a meeting, presided over by the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, it was decided that water supply system and sewerage network in the city would be rehabilitated and improved.

It was decided that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board would be reorganized so that it could meet the modern-day requirements at a cost of

Rs2.4 billion.

Decision was also taken for the preparation of a comprehensive water and sewerage master plan for 2005-20 for Karachi.

The six-hour-long meeting reviewed the situation regarding supply of drinking water and sewerage and decisions were taken for providing relief to the people.

The governor directed that five quick response forces should be set up immediately to provide relief to people during an emergency situation, particularly in cases of water contamination.

He also issued directives for formation of special maintenance units, comprising hard working and responsible technical staff.

Each force will comprise mobile filter unit and necessary staff and their contact numbers will be advertised. The scheme will cost Rs 2.5 million.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister Planning and Development Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, Advisor on Local Government Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Principal Secretary Saleem Khan, ACS Planning Ghulam Sarwar Khehro, Law Secretary Ghulam Nabi Shah, Secretary Local Government Ishaq Lashari, DCO Fazlur Rehman and other officials.

Managing Director of KWSB Brig Iftekhar Hyder apprised the meeting about relevant details.

Considering the causes of contamination of water by sewage in various areas, particularly in Katchi Abadis, it was decided to place the underground water pipelines over-ground.

In this regard, pumping stations will be made functional to lift water from sub-soil reserves. Initially, Rs 200 million will be spent on this project.

It was decided to initiate the project for rehabilitation and improvement of 131 pumping stations and the governor directed that it should compulsorily be completed in three months.

The project will help reduce the cost being incurred on electricity and their performance will improve besides overcoming the problem of contamination.

Planning was also carried out to bring improvement in the quality of drinking water and ongoing works in this regard were reviewed.

The meeting was informed that work on 80mgd Hub Water Filtration Plant has completed and it was in trial operation while 68 per cent work on 50mgd Pipri Filtration Plant is also completed and the entire work will finish in March 2006. Work on Gharo, NEK and COD filter plants is also in progress.

It was stated that Rs 128 million have been allocated for Pipri and three other filter plants.

It was informed that at present the system has a capacity to supply 325 mgd filtered water and this capacity will increase by another 125 mgd, with the addition of Hub and Pipri plants.

Under the project, additional filtration capacity of 100mgd and 90mgd will be available from NEK and COD filtration plants respectively.

The governor was also briefed about the progress regarding rehabilitation of decades-old sewerage system at Jamila Pumping Station, Lyari.

The EDO informed that according to an estimate, rehabilitation of Jamila Street Pumping Station and installation of generators will cost Rs 112 million.

According to consultants report, improvement of sewerage services in Lyari and Saddar towns will be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 170 million, while the sewerage project in Clifton’s block 1 to 5 and 7, Bath Island and remaining areas of Saddar Town will be completed at a cost of Rs 403 million.

The above projects will resolve the longstanding sewerage problems of these areas on a permanent basis and provide a modern sewerage system.

The meeting was also informed about the details of the scheme being undertaken to provide water to the distant areas of Clifton and Lyari. This water supply project will cost Rs 450 million.

On the occasion, the steps were also reviewed to ensure supply of water to the people during power supply disruptions. In this regard, it was decided that 19 stand-by generators will be installed at pumping stations at a cost of Rs 75 million.

Brig. Iftikhar Haider stated that an agreement pertaining to establishment of 35-MW pumping station at Dhabeji is being finalised. A project to generate electricity through refuse to meet the power requirement of Manghopir Pumping Station and Hub Filtration Plant is also under consideration, he added.

The governor directed proper maintenance of the available generators to keep them in working condition.

The meeting was informed that a project has been prepared at a cost of Rs 452 million to improve the flow at three sewerage treatment plants.

The 2005-25 Water and Sewerage Master Plan was also reviewed in the meeting. This programme will be completed with dollars 5 million grant through the assistance of JICA.

The governor directed the officials of Water Board to work with responsibility and dedication to provide relief to the masses.

The governor also directed water supply system be harmonised with K-3 100mgd water supply project to ensure supply of this quantity of water. In this regard, he asked to immediately finalise the Rs 2 billion project.