KARACHI, July 25: Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad has issued directive for bringing improvement and transparency in the system of water supply through tankers.

The governor called for a survey of all hydrants in Karachi and a review of water supply through tankers. In this regard, a committee comprising Rangers and city government officials was also formed, which would submit its report, containing practical recommendations, to the governor within the next 15 days.

Mr Ibad was presiding over a high level meeting at the Governor House, in which he was briefed on the issue by the senior officials of Rangers and city government.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Shoaib Bukhari and Mohammed Hussain, DG Rangers Maj Gen Salahuddin Satti, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Principal Secretary Brig (Retd) Akhtar Zamin, DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali, EDO Water Brig (Retd) Javed Ashraf, and other senior officials.

The governor directed that in areas where water supply could be improved without water tankers, steps should be taken accordingly. Particularly after the accumulation of water in Hub Dam, he said that immediate attention should be paid to water supply to the water deficit areas.

He called for keeping watch on tankers, supplying sub-standard water for drinking purposes. Necessary action should be taken against the owners of such tankers, he added.

He took notice of leaking water tankers and said that valves and defects of such tankers should be rectified by August 15. He also stressed on shifting of hydrants from residential areas.

The participants of the meeting informed that Rangers used to supply only three per cent of water from nine hydrants through tankers, while water was being supplied free of cost through community tanks in Lyari, Orangi, Baldia, and Surjani. It was further informed that 48 fibre glass tanks had been installed in various areas where water was not available through lines.

The governor called for setting up of a regular body for the improved tanker system under the city government.

Meanwhile, the governor constituted three inspection teams for monitoring municipal services.

These committees, according to official sources, will monitor arrangements to provide relief to people during rains particularly with regard to provision of water, electricity and traffic management. The deputy secretaries of Governor House, including Fazilat Mehdi, Mohammed Mudassar Khan and Aftab Ahmed Khatri, will be the members of these committees.

The teams will monitor the process of relief actions through inspection and random checking of complaint centres, offices of TMOs, the operational status of emergency centres of KESC and KWSB, presence of their staff and receipt of complaints.—APP