KARACHI: The food laboratory of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has informed Mayor Wasim Akhtar that out of 204 water samples it collected across the city, 202 were found unfit for human consumption.

The food lab presented a report regarding its findings to the mayor on Monday.

The report led the mayor to ask the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to improve its water supply system to defend against threats which could put the lives of the people in danger.

A spokesperson of the KMC said water samples were randomly collected from 24 union committees of Karachi by the food and quality control department. It tested those samples in the food laboratory under the standard method of testing.

A total of 204 water samples were collected and E. coli was found in 119

Officials said the tests were conducted on the directive of the mayor under the Pakistan Pure Foods Ordinance 1960.

According to the report, 204 samples were collected from the UCs spread across the length and breadth of the city and upon testing 202 of them were found unfit for human consumption.

The report said 85 water samples were tested for presence of chlorine and just two of those samples were found adequately chlorinated. The remaining showed no traces of the substance, which is highly necessary to save people from deadly Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as ‘brain-eating’ amoeba.

Moreover, 119 samples were taken for a bacteriological test and all of them were infected with E. coli bacteria.

Experts say some strains of E. coli may cause severe anaemia or kidney failure, which can lead to death. Other strains of E. coli can cause urinary tract infections or other infections.

The officials said the mayor ordered for testing of the water being supplied to the teeming city following a resolution passed by the City Council showing concern over contamination in drinking water.

The areas from where the samples were collected are: Sakhi Hasan, North Nazimabad, North Karachi Sectors 11-J, 11-E, A, 5A2, Godhra Colony, Amil Colony on Jamshed Road, Alamgir Masjid in Bahadurabad, Blocks 8 and 20 of Federal B Area, Kalakot and other parts of Lyari, Madinah Colony in Baldia Town, Block B Gulshan-i-Ghazi, Akhtar Colony, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, Azam Basti, Orangi Town, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Metroville, Usmanabad, Korangi, etc.

Tree plantation

Mayor Akhtar said a tree plantation campaign had been launched in Karachi aimed at making the city greener.

The campaign would continue indefinitely, he said.

He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the campaign organised by the KMC Officers Welfare Association as part of Independence Day celebrations beneath Qayyumabad flyover.

The mayor planted a sapling to formally launch the campaign. “We all have to play our role in development and progress of our city. It is our job to keep protecting trees and plants around us.”

He said encroachments and illegal construction could be seen all over Karachi as the Sindh government showed no interest in discouraging the perpetrators.

He said the government should first correct the sewerage system before constructing roads.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2017