KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation in Sindh on Monday expressed its resentment to the authorities concerned for not providing any substantial material about the 22 realignments in K-IV and warned that it might refer the matter to the National Accountability Bureau.

The head of the commission, retired SC judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim, also expressed dissatisfaction over a statement filed on behalf of the consultant of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, better known as the K-IV project, and observed that for months an attempt was being made to get explanation of the consultant regarding the realignments, but no substantial material had been produced.

The commission said that a last chance was being given to the authorities concerned till July 3 and if no clear picture was provided about the realignments, the commission might consider whether it was a fit case for reference to NAB.

Lauds KPT chief and Sindh chief secretary’s approach to solve land issue

Retired Col Ajmal Rasheed, representing the consultant of K-IV, through a statement informed the commission that in the first place the land given for the project was about 13,000 acres, which was supposed to be included in the K-IV project; out of which 2,076 acres were private land when the designing of the project was started.

The statement further said that after adjustment, the private land was about 1,053 acres as about 1,000 acres had been reduced and the cost of compensation for private land was evaluated at Rs5 billion by the provincial government and Rs2.5bn had already been released.

It maintained that if the private land had remained over 2,000 acres, the compensation would have been much higher and while carrying out adjustments, the client ensured utilisation of government land instead of private land.

“Thus, the increase in cost of adjustments due to deviation from most economical route, deep cut and high filled areas were encountered because of which approximately Rs3bn extra expenditure has been incurred. However, due to reduced area of private land significant expenditure on acquisition of land has been saved,” the statement said.

However, Justice Muslim observed that Mr Rasheed, who was representing the consultant, the project director and not the government, was the client and since he was appointed by the government, the consultant was bound to accept the dictates of the project director about realignments.

The commission ruled that “let the terms on which the consultancy was awarded be placed reflecting this fact on record”. The commission said that it was not satisfied with the statement, adding that every detail should be provided about the proposed land the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was to acquire.

Justice Muslim further observed that the statement was also unclear that how the consultant could evaluate the land to Rs3bn as it was not their subject, but of the revenue department which could have provided details of the valuation of the proposed private land.

A resident of Usman Allah Rakhio Goth in Gadap Town had filed an application before the commission and contended that the alignment, approved in 2016, was the only straight and shortest possible time/money-saving route.

However, the applicant maintained that realignment of the project was based on mala fide intention to achieve ulterior motive and to give benefit to Bahria Town, Karachi. He asked the commission to set aside the realignments in K-IV.

In a previous hearing, the commission had directed the consultant of the project to submit a detailed report within a week explaining which authority had allowed those realignments, written justification that why the project was realigned 22 times and facts and figures about the additional amount spent on such realignments.

KPT to fund treatment plant

The commission appreciated the approach of the chairman of the Karachi Port Trust and the chief secretary of Sindh to formulate a plan to identify the land on paper for the installation of TP-V, to be funded by the KPT.

It said that the area required for the treatment plant and its reservoir, in which mangroves would also be protected, was around 150 acres.

The KPT informed the commission that they had no intention to utilise that area for any purpose other than the treatment plant and associated infrastructure inclusive of mangroves, which would be there for breading shrimps. It added that it would also have a healthy effect on marine life and would minimise the damage caused on account of untreated water being discharged into the sea.

However, the land identified for the proposed project was under litigation as the KPT contended that it was in its possession and claimed its title whereas the Sindh government also claimed its ownership.

The commission observed that it was yet to be confirmed that any portion of the proposed land had been allotted by the provincial government to any other allottee. However, it added that once this land was identified the issue could also be examined irrespective of the dispute between the KPT and the Sindh government on the title.

However, the KPT and the provincial government have agreed to give up their stand whatsoever in the larger interest of the public and achieve the proposed object.

The commission said the project would be fully financed by the KPT and it would include the reservoir for mangroves and healthy marine life.

The commission directed its coordinator Asif Hyder Shah to interact with KPT and provincial government officials and make a joint statement after demarcation of the land immediately after the Eid holidays.

CBC chief’s absence

The commission heard Asif Hyder, secretary to Defence Housing Authority Brigadier Shoaib Anwar and deputy executive officer of Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) about installation of treatment plants and supply of potable water.

However, the commission said that the CBC CEO did not turn up for which no plausible explanation had been offered, adding that in the future the cantonment director must be in attendance so that issues which needed to be addressed should not be left unattended.

This order was passed because the CBC CEO was in habit of avoiding attendance without any justifiable reasons, it added.

A joint request for more time has been sought on the issue of installation of treatment plants in phases- I to VII and equitable supply of potable water to the DHA.

Subsequently, the commission said that Mr Shah in consultation with officials of the DHA and the CBC would submit a report on July 2 pertaining to the improvement of drinking water supply as well as proposed installation of sewage treatment plants.

Warning to Pak Oasis on S-III

The commission expressed displeasure over the working of Pak Oasis on the Greater Karachi Sewage Treatment Project, commonly known as S-III.

It observed that in TP-1 they were far behind the work plan whereas in TP-3, too, they were substantially behind the work plan for which no plausible explanation had been offered either by the consultant or by the contractor.

The commission warned that if the work plan was not brought in conformity within 15 days, the project director might award the work, which was behind the work plan, to any other person at the risk and cost of the contractor.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018