July 24, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 20, 1429

KARACHI, July 23: Managing Director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Sulaiman Chandio has asked consultants M/s Nespak and the contractors engaged for the laying of a sewage line in the industrial areas of Landhi and Korangi to rectify faults and improve the standard of work or face appropriate action.

He inspected the ongoing work at the site and expressed his dismay over the substandard material and poor quality of work. He noticed various faults in the pipeline and feared that the projected sewerage system costing billions of rupees might fail as gravity and required depth were totally ignored by the contractors concerned.

He pointed out that the flaws, if not rectified, could result in overflow of sewage and ultimate failure of the system.

Mr Chandio, the senior-most engineer of the KWSB, took up the issues of flaws and substandard work with the Nespak representatives and the contractors.

He pointed out that the pipelines, particularly those laid across Ghani Chowrangi and Gul Ahmed Chowrangi, were defective. He asked the Nespak to get these pipeline replaced, and said that the gravity and required length be maintained while laying the new lines.

He also told the contractors concerned not to lay any pipeline in a zig-zag manner and ensure that chances of the mixing of water and sewage in case of any possible damage to either pipeline were avoided.

He directed all those involved in the execution of the project to expedite the inter-connection work so that the project could be made functional within the stipulated time.

The chief engineer concerned, Imran Asif, told Mr Chandio that Nespak had already been paid the total consultancy fee for the project.

Later, Mr Chandio told Dawn that a Nespak delegation led by its vice-president called on him and held out the assurance that the faults identified by him would be rectified and the prescribed standards would be maintained to the satisfaction of the KWSB.

Generator installed

The KWSB has installed a generator at its Juna Masjid pumping station to ensure an uninterrupted pumping of sewage during power breakdowns, according to a statement issued by the board.