KARACHI, Dec 10: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on Saturday said that the work on plan for supply of 650 million gallon per day (mgd) water had been started under which the city’s drinking water requirement for the next 50 years would be met.

“Now there will be no need to conduct a study after every two or three years, and water will continue to be supplied phase-wise, thus meeting the city’s requirement for the next 50 years,” he stated at a gathering held for the signing of a consultancy agreement between the KWSB and a private firm, M/s Usmani and Co. for the K-4 water supply scheme. The agreements also provides for a studying of the city’s water requirement in the next 50 years.

The nazim pointed out that the new city government was paying special attention to this issue and within a short period of 90 days, it had start work on a 50-year planning.

He said that Karachi’s 90 per cent water requirement would be fulfilled after completion of the K-3 project whereas the rest 10 per cent would be met through various other sources.

“However, the 50-year planning has become essential in view of the city’s growing population, and work on this has been started today.”

Mr Kamal said that the company had sought 15-18 months time for the study, but on the CDGK’s request, it had promised to complete the study in 10-12 months. “The study will be finalized by December next and soon afterwards, work will start on K-4 project which is planned to be completed in 2008.”

The nazim said the study would cost the city government an amount of Rs33 million. However, the federal government would be approached to meet development cost of the K-4 project, he added.

He said that after two years, the city government would be in a position to complete K-5 and other projects to be undertaken thereafter from its own resources.

He stated that the city government was working on various proposals for an increase in its revenues and, hopefully, it would not face problems of resources after K-5 project.

The city nazim reminded KWSB officials that the work they had been doing, had a direct bearing on people’s life, and impressed upon him to carry out their duties with sincerity.

Earlier, KWSB MD Brig Iftekhar Hyder and a representative of the firm signed the agreement. Chief Engineer of the K-3 project Mashkoorul Hasnain and Project Manager Misbahul Fareed were those present on the occasion.—APP