KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation in Sindh on Monday directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director to ensure fair distribution of water in the provincial capital.

In a previous hearing, the commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Amir Hani Muslim, had passed directions regarding equitable distribution of water in the city on complaints of many citizens, mostly from Baldia Town.

On Monday, the KWSB MD offered an explanation in this regard. However, the commission said the explanation was not convincing and observed that fair distribution of water must be done as earlier connections were given to favourites.

Judicial commission summons a number of persons over conversion of industrial plots

The MD must take steps to ensure that the issue was resolved in conformity with fair distribution of water within a week and a compliance report be submitted to the court, it added.

Commissioner told to hold inquiry

Earlier, the commission summoned a number of persons over conversion of industrial plots into commercial ones, or allowing commercial activities on such plots.

On Monday, the owner of a plot, located along a drain in SITE Hyderabad, claimed that the plot was allocated as commercial premises and it was never meant for any installation of industry.

The commission directed the Hyderabad commissioner to hold an inquiry into the matter and also record his findings whether SITE had failed to restore and revive the choked drain.

The commission directed that the advocate general of Sindh or an additional advocate general must appear on Nov 13 to assist it after the owner of a fast food centre in Karachi contended that the plot in question was never an industrial plot.

Meanwhile, the commission also issued notices to a number of persons for appearance at the next hearing for reportedly using the industrial plots for commercial purposes.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2018