KARACHI, June 23: Private water tankers, drawing a maximum of 20 million gallons of water per day (mgd) from the KWSB source, are earning around Rs1.8 billion per annum, whereas the water utility itself is generating only Rs2 billion yearly by supplying 400mgd of water to its 1.4 million consumers in the city.
These incredible figures can be calculated by taking into account the fact that though the water tankers’ filling rates at the nine Rangers-manned hydrants -- belonging to the KWSB -- are Rs44 per 1,000 gallons for domestic purposes and Rs73 per 1,000 gallons for commercial purposes, the private tankers charge five times more than the filling charges from their customers, whether they are residents of water-starved localities or commercial concerns.
For instance, if a 1,000-gallon tanker meant for domestic purposes is paying Rs44 filling charges at any of the nine hydrants, it is sold for a minimum of Rs250 in a water-starved locality, which is more than five times higher than the filling charges.
Similarly, a tanker paying filling charges on commercial rates of Rs73 per 1,000 gallons charges between Rs400 and Rs500 from commercial concerns and industries.
Moreover, an official document obtained by Dawn shows that water obtained from all the nine hydrants to the tune of 15 to 20mgd comes to Rs1 million daily, which means that if this amount for filling charges (Rs1m) is multiplied by 365 days it comes to Rs365 million per annum. But since the private tankers sell the water at rates five times higher than the filling charges, the tankers drawing water from the KWSB hydrants are making Rs1.8 billion yearly.
The document further says that an “artificial water shortage created with the connivance of water board staff and the tanker mafia has enhanced the sale of tankers.”
Private tankers drawing water from the hydrants are making between 13,750 and 15,390 trips daily (3,400 to 4,000 gratis trips and 10,000 to 12,000 commercial trips).
In this regard the document says that “the internal staff of the public/private sector societies/industries/residential flats’ associations, in connivance with the tanker mafia and the KWSB staff, create (an) artificial shortage for boosting the commercial supply of water through (the) tankers. Besides, the town administrations (have) failed to check such incidents,” the document stated.
