KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Friday said that spillways of Hub Dam had been opened after it reached capacity and that there was no infrastructural threat to the Hub Canal through which 100 MGD was being supplied to the city.

While talking to Dawn, he said that he had already directed the authorities concerned to repair the damaged parts of the Hub Canal, the only source to supply water to district West from Hub Dam, on emergency basis. “All-out efforts are being made to increase water supply to meet the city’s requirements and its fair distribution, and strict action is being taken against illegal water connections across the city,” he added.

The mayor, who visited the Hub Canal and Hub Pumping Station along with Chief Executive Officer of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation Syed Salahuddin Ahmed and Corporation Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan, said that it was very important to know the current situation of the water resources after the recent monsoon rains.

He said that he had directed the officials to repair the damaged parts of the Hub Canal on emergency basis, adding that the filling of the Hub Dam after the recent monsoon rains was good news for the people of district West.

The mayor said that 100 MGD was supplied to the city per day from the Hub Dam which met the water needs of a large part of the city. “Meeting the water needs of Karachi is among my priorities and steps are being taken for this, he said, adding that the resources would be increased to supply water to the city and the process of water distribution would also be made fair.

Barrister Wahab said that he had issued orders to cut the illegal connections: “Wherever the mafia is involved, they will not be forgiven and in any case these connections will be disconnected.

He said that the people who paid the taxes of the water utility had every right on the water supplied to the city.

The mayor said that water was flowing in lines in some areas round-the-clock while people in other areas were craving for even a drop of water due to unfair distribution. “We are making every possible effort to ensure fair distribution of water in the city,” he said and added that strict action would be taken against those officials who were found involved in granting illegal connections.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had directed that the problem of water in Karachi should be solved on a priority basis and water should be made available to the entire population of the city.

The mayor said that potable water was one of the basic needs of people and its supply would also be improved with laying of new water lines to provide water to remote areas.

He said that FIRs would be registered against those involved in getting or granting illegal water connection in any part of the city.

The mayor also said that strict action would be taken against the illegal hydrants if established.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2023