KARACHI, July 4: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Friday directed the concerned authorities to take steps on “a war footing” to ensure uninterrupted and smooth supply of water and electricity to the citizens.

While presiding over a high level meeting at the Governor House, he instructed the water and power utilities to set up 24-hour special relief centres in all 18 towns of the city, to be headed by the respective Town Municipal Officers (TMOs). The presence of the officers concerned from the KESC, W&SD and other relevant departments in the relief centres be ensured, he ordered.

The governor asked the water and power officials to improve liaison with the citizens and make more effective the general complaint centres as well.

He directed the KESC officials to ensure the availability of electricity in all the pumping stations and in that regard asked the W&SD officials to provide a complete list of all water supply installations to the power utility.

The Managing Director of KESC, Brig Tariq Saddozai, apprised the governor of short- and long-term steps being taken by the corporation to improve its transmission and distribution system.

He informed the governor that for immediate relief, ten new transformers were being mounted which would help shed overloading. He said since 1998, because of different reasons, funds were not spent on improvement of transmission and distribution infrastructure.

The KESC’s chief said due to the breaking of the extra high-tension line on July 1, five grid stations were affected and SITE, Haroonabad, Mauripur, Lyari, West Wharf and some parts of Liaquatabad had to brave long power breakdowns.

Mr Saddozai said the corporation faced enormous difficulties to restore electricity due to the presence of illegal constructions and encroachments under high tension lines and, therefore, power was restored in half of localities by 10am, but in the remaining ones, by 6pm the same day.

He informed the governor that patrolling had been started in some sensitive areas to check the breaking of high tension wires due to theft or any other reason.

Mr Saddozai said under the long-term programme, 12 new grid stations were being established at a cost of Rs13 billion while extra high tension lines measuring 86km would be installed. Two lines from WAPDA and a contact from Hubco to Karachi were included in the long-term project. — PPI