KARACHI, Nov 21: The process of restructuring of KWSB has been geared up with a view to transforming the water utility into a corporation, the KWSB managing director, Brig Iftikhar Haider, told a news conference here on Monday. The KWBS’s restructuring which has been initiated with the concurrence of the city Nazim, who is also chairman of the KWSB, is aimed at improving water and sewerage systems, financial recovery by introducing new billing system and collection procedure and staff’s skills, he added.
Highlighting the salient features of the board’s restructuring plan, he said that it includes setting up of 100 customers service centres for redressing consumers’ grievances, introducing latest technology and data-based management system, giving operational autonomy to managers, induction of young engineers and professionals, besides making officials accountable for which their performance audit report would be prepared after every six months.
Describing the existing water tariff as ‘unjust’ and ‘irrational’, he said that a proposal is under way to do justice with the occupants of flats who are, at present, paying more than those residing in big houses.
“Isn’t it unjust that an owner of 500 square yards bungalow is paying Rs 229 per annum under the head of water charges while an owner of a flat having same area (which comes to around 4,500 square feet) is being charged Rs 888 per annum”, he remarked, saying flat owners/occupants will be benefited in case the water tariffs are rationalized.
The entire KWSB’s restructuring plan will cost around Rs 1500 million in two years for which the Sindh government has already been approached, he said, adding a number of workshops on restructuring would be conducted, in collaboration with the World Bank’s Water and Sewerage Programme (WSP).
Emphasising the need for bringing corporate culture in the KWSB through institutional reforms, Brig Haider said with the transformation of the water utility organisation into a corporation by having an effective governing body and strict control through an independent regulator, the KWSB would not only become a good service provider, but would also become an economically viable organisation.
Explaining details of proposed the governing body, he said there would be nine members of the GB, managing director will act its executive member with no voting rights and a chairman having powers of hiring and firing the managing director. All members and the chairman will be appointed by the government for a fixed term of two years.
Under the restructuring plan, the KWSB’s policy-maker will be the city district government and the Sindh government, KWSB and its governing body would be the service provider while the CDGK would act as its regulator, he said.
Giving details of the KWSB’s restructuring plan, he said the city had already been divided into three zones, each having its separate chief engineer. Each zonal chief will have administrative and financial powers, besides enjoying even those powers mentioned under Para-58 while each zone will be supported by induction of field engineers and mid-level professional engineers.
He said with a view to making the restructuring plan, the KWSB intends to induct 150 young engineers, 36 mid-level engineers, 150 to 200 computer/Information Technology specialists and young IT managers in each zone.
The other measures which would be undertaken as part of restructuring plan include launching of a KWSB website, introduction of a system for reconciliation of revenue collection on a daily basis, setting up of land and estate department to formalize removal of encroachments from the KWSB land, besides cumbersome procedure for obtaining commercial and industrial connections was being streamlined.
