KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah has constituted a committee to monitor and make functional RO (reverse osmosis) plants in Tharparkar and other parts of the province.

The chief secretary called a meeting against the backdrop of reports regarding the numbers of non-functional RO plants that caused an acute water shortage in localities where the residents were mainly dependent on RO plants for water.

Chairing the meeting, the chief secretary stressed the need for making all-out efforts to ensure the maintenance of all RO plants so that they could remain functional.

He also wanted that all stakeholders must work for ensuring supply of potable water to citizens.

The committee he constituted comprised of the secretary of the public health engineering department (PHED), additional finance secretary, representatives of the NED University, Mehran University and M/s Pak Oasis Ltd.

The chief secretary also directed the committee to prepare a detailed report regarding performance of RO plants along with ensuring that non-operational plants be made functional and submit it to him within 15 days. Earlier, officials of the PHED and others gave a detailed briefing to the CS on the working of RO plants.

741 RO plants non-functional

PHED secretary Hassan Naqvi informed the meeting that 2,222 RO plants had been installed in various areas including Tharparkar district. Of the total RO plants, 1,481 were functional and remaining 741 were non-functional, the meeting was told.

He also apprised the participants that on the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and in compliance with court orders all schemes of water supply and drainage had been transferred to the PHED.

A judicial commission on water and sanitation, headed by retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim, had declared the public health engineering department responsible for operation and maintenance of all schemes executed by the department.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2019