KARACHI, Sept 11: Community water filter plants are being installed in various parts of the city on the directives of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad to ensure availability of clean drinking water to people. Five plants would be installed in the first phase in katchi abadis, undeveloped and pollution-hit localities, especially in Lyari, which is more affected by problems of water scarcity and contamination as compared to other areas.

A meeting in this regard was held at the Governor’s House on Saturday in which Dr Ishratul Ibad was briefed by the representatives of local and foreign companies about their expertise in installing water filtration plants.

Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Shoaib Bukhari, Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman and other officials were present.

The meeting also reviewed progress of the ongoing 100-mgd K-III water supply project, 70 per cent of which has so far been completed. It would be entirely completed by June next year.

Officials of the KWSB told the meeting that work on upgradation of water supply system for supplying additional 100 mgd water will begin in Jan 2006. However, the Sindh governor stressed on its early start so that it could be completed by the time the K-III project becomes ready.

Dr Ibad said in case of failure to improve the existing water supply system, the additional water would go to waste and the purpose of starting the multi-billion rupees project would not be achieved.

He said about Rs2 billion would be spent on the project of improvement and strengthening of water supply system under which water reservoirs of Orangi and the University Road would be improved; the Dhabeji rising main will be changed while weak segments of trunk mains of Banaras, Old Pipri, University, Karimabad, Sabzi Mandi, Safari Park, Baldia and Urdu Chowk would be strengthened.

“In view of the growing water needs of various industrial and trade units, steps are under way to procure additional 1,200 cusecs water from the River Indus,” the meeting was informed.

Dr Ibad said work was also underway for bringing water from Keenjhar to Karachi via an alternative route and shortlisting firms for preparing feasibility of the proposed K-IV water project.

The need for desalination plants, water recycling and tapping of groundwater for meeting the future water requirements also came under discussion during the meeting. It was informed that work on projects of two desalination plants would be initiated by Feb 2006.

A project has also been approved on the BOT basis for recycling waste water and supplying 16 mgd recycled water to the SITE industrial area.—APP