KARACHI: The judicial commission probing the provincial government’s failure in providing safe water and proper sanitation to the people of the province on Saturday directed the federal finance and planning commission secretaries to appear before it to explain the federal government’s reservations, if any, on the funding of much-delayed Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, better known as the K-IV project.

The city’s mega water project has been hit by delays mainly due to the issue of funding between the Sindh and federal governments as there has been hardly any progress on the scheme even after its inauguration about one and a half years ago, raising drastically its cost to Rs51.9 billion from its original estimate of Rs25bn.

On Saturday, the judicial commission, headed by former judge of the Supreme Court Amir Hani Muslim, expressed grave concern over the lethargic attitude of the provincial and federal authorities in completion of the K-IV project that would add a total of 560 million gallons water daily to the city’s existing water supply.

Advocate Shahab Usto, the petitioner in the water case before the Supreme Court, informed the commission that the first phase of the project would add 260mgd water to the city after completion, but through the Bahria Town project on Superhighway.

The water commission seeks details of Karachi and Hyderabad housing schemes

Justice Hani asked how much of this water would be supplied to the people of Karachi and apprehended that the water might not be supplied to the residents of the city.

The chairman of the provincial planning and development department informed the commission that the federal government was not releasing funds for the project. He further said that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council had approved the funding of the K-IV project, but the federal cabinet objected to it.

The commission expressed displeasure when it learnt that no official from the federal government was present in the proceedings and directed the federal finance and planning commission secretaries to appear before it on March 5, when the matter would be taken up again.

Permission for high-rises

The commission head also came down hard on the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority, asking him the reason why the permissions for constriction of high-rise buildings were being granted when there was no proper sewerage system. “Twenty-storey buildings are being constructed but there is no water for drinking,” he remarked.

The judicial body directed the authorities concerned to place before it the details of housing schemes of Karachi and Hyderabad by the next date of proceedings.

“Karachi and Hyderabad have been destroyed. Have you noticed that there was no master plan for Karachi. Drains have been encroached, the actual face of the city has been changed. The permissions for construction of high-rise buildings were granted without any master plan”.

Industrialists tender unconditional apology

Justice Hani also expressed annoyance over the owners of 70 factories as they had reportedly restrained the judicial magistrates from inspection.

The counsel representing the factory owners tendered unconditional apology and submitted that they were ready to cooperate with the authorities.

The commission head warned that criminal proceedings would be initiated against the delinquent factory owners who did not allow the commission-designated magistrate to inspect the factories.

The commission directed the judicial magistrate to inspect factories along with the personnel of law enforcement agencies and to take strict action, if any of the factory managements restrained them from doing so.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018