KARACHI: Water is the need of the city which is almost all the time facing a shortage of this most necessary natural resource. In fact adequate water supply has become a serious challenge in Karachi. And as the population of Karachi increases the requirement of bulk water supply to it becomes overwhelming.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is supplying water through the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply (GKBWS), K-II, K-III and other schemes to Karachi since 1958.

Water is sourced through Keenjhar Lake and Hub dam. But it is not enough and a new feasible water supply corridor from Keenjhar had to be initiated. Better known as the K-IV project, it is expected to generate the much-needed extra supply of water for the next 50 years.

The 124-kilometre-long project, which is 35.07 feet wide, starts from the Keenjhar to run through its proposed route before ending at the Northern Bypass at Khairo Brohi Goth. It is expected to supply 650 million gallons per day after completion of its three phases in 2025 and after extension later on it can supply up to 1,430mgd water.

In order to look into the environmental impact of such a huge project, a public hearing was convened by the KWSB at the Institute of Engineering Pakistan here on Tuesday to review the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report submitted to the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) and hear out the concerns of the general public about the project.

The public had several concerns, including the quality of water from Keenjhar, impact of project on the flora and fauna, power supply for the new pumping stations, city infrastructure, relocating people to accommodate the canal, the water failing to reach Karachi at all while being consumed by Bahria Town, DHA City and Education City, etc.

Dr Anwer Alizai of the Geological Survey of Pakistan pointed that industrial waste from Nooriabad directly contributed to Keenjhar Lake.

It was explained to him by environment specialist Dr Jamil Kazmi that because the main supply was coming from the Indus the Keenjhar would constantly be cleaned out by being replenished from there constantly. Plus there would be continuous monitoring of the quality of water to check for chemical waste from the industries and pesticides from the agriculture lands. It was also claimed that at the moment the water being pumped out to Karachi is contamination free.

Dr Imran, a lecturer, was worried about the more than 300 plant species in the route of the project though only 50 had been mentioned in the report and those, too, with their names mixed up.

It was clarified that they had mentioned the most common species found in the 1,300 acre area.

Environment Secretary Shams Memon demanded assurance of a more in-depth survey regarding all the trees, grass, herds and shrubs they are disturbing them would have a very negative impact on the environment for sure.

He was also concerned about the communities living in the area who would have to be relocated.

Engineer Gulzar Memon, a former KWSB employee, inquired about continuous power supply for the new K-IV pumping stations keeping in view the regular breakdowns KWSB complains about all the time at the pumping stations. He also stressed the need for more filtering plants.

He was informed of backup generators and alternative sources such as wind power and also if there would be a power issue with K-Electric then KWSB could also look towards Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company.

When the former KWSB engineer brought up another issue about the danger of the water from K-IV being used up by the upcoming Bahria Town, DHA City, Education City and there like, he was informed that Karachi was the priority and only the water leftover may be diverted to such future projects. Still, it was agreed that the report had some gaps which would be looked into.

Zahid Farooq of the Urban Resource Centre wished that the people from various goths or villages that fell along the route of the project could also be invited to such hearings in order to learn more about it and also to be heard out as they too would have some opinion regarding the matter.

He was informed by the K-IV Project Director Saleem Siddiqui that they still had three years to go before the completion of the first phase during which many things could happen.

The project that would be built on 13,250 acres includes 2,036 privately owned land.

M Saadan of the Sui Southern Gas Company was worried about the private property falling into the K-IV route.

He was informed by the project director that they had taken care to use as little private property as possible while also not disturbing any mosques or graveyards.

“It will pass though public-owned land mostly,” said the project director while adding that there were laws in place regarding resettlement plans and compensation as according to the 1894 Land Acquisition Act it did not matter who owned the land when it was needed for the greater good of the people.

Syed Mansha of Suparco aired his concern over Osmani & Company (Pvt) Ltd (OCL) preparing the EIA report while also designing the project for KWSB.

He also questioned the absence of representatives from the forest and wildlife department while also pointed out that most of the data provided in the report was taken from a survey done for DHA City sometime back.

To this, Sepa’s director-technical Waqar Hussain Phulpoto said that they would look into the matter as they were not fully satisfied with the report as it is.

Salman Chandio, a concerned citizen, said that he was getting the impression that the water would be supplied directly to the city but there is always a need for storage of water in order to add alum to it and filter it. And even there, he pointed out that filtration could not completely do away with chemical waste.

Mr Anwer of the Institute of Engineering, Pakistan aired his concerns about the K-IV being a hurried project, fast-forwarded to fulfil the city’s water needs while not being given much thought in the process. He was assured by the Sepa director and the project director that they would not do anything before giving proper consideration to all aspects.

Earlier, the experts including retired Lt-Col Ajmal Rasheed of OCL, environment specialist Dr Jamil Kazmi briefed about the project and the objectives of the EIA.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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