KARACHI: Briefing Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on the K-IV project, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman retired Lt-Gen Sajjad Ghani said on Tuesday that the overall progress of the much-delayed water supply scheme was 53 per cent.

The Wapda chairman called on Murad at the CM House and discussed with him several other critical projects, including the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD), at the meeting also attended by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro and other senior officials, including K-IV Project Director Aamir Mughal.

According to a statement issued by the CM House, the meeting was informed that the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV (Phase-I) is planned to supply 260 MGD water to the mega city of Karachi at three termination points — Pipri, North-East Karachi (NEK) hydrant and Manghopir — from its source at Keenjhar Lake, Thatta. Wapda is executing the project and its completion date is June 2026.

The Sindh government is working on the distribution and augmentation system, establishing a power supply arrangement of 50MW and managing land acquisition and clearance of the right-of-way (ROW) for the project.

CM seeks additional 50MGD from Hub Dam for Karachi

The Wapda chairman provided an update on the status of the K-IV project, stating that it was being implemented through eight contract packages awarded to various local and international contractors.

He emphasised that work on all components of the project, including the intake structure, pumping stations, water conveyance system (pressurised pipeline), water res­ervoirs and filtration plants, was currently in full swing.

The discussion centred on the release of Rs8.5 billion by the Sindh government as its cost share. In response, the chief minister instructed the LG minister to prepare a summary for the release of the share.

Regarding the clearance of the 5 km right-of-way and associated court cases, the chief minister directed Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to have the stay order vacated so that work on the project could proceed.

Additionally, another land issue at RD 78 was addressed,

and the chief minister instructed the senior member of the Board of Revenue to resolve the compensation case.

Additional water allocation from Hub Dam

At the outset, Mr Shah said the Sindh government was in the process of constructing a parallel canal aimed at enhancing the water supply infrastructure and ensuring a more reliable source of water for the city. He urged the Wapda chief to allocate 50MGD of additional water from the Hub Dam for Karachi.

The chairman suggested the CM for directing the water board to submit a written request. The city mayor stated that the request had already been made.

He informed the CM that the water board owed Rs1 billion to Wapda for the maintenance of the Hub Canal. The CM responded that his government would settle the outstanding dues, instructing Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani to send him a summary for the purpose, a communique said.

The CM and Wapda chairman also discussed the RBOD-I and RBOD-IlI, the federally-funded drainage projects implemented by the water and power authority. The projects provide drainage facilities for saline effluent and agricultural surplus besides storm water to the areas of Larkana, Dadu and Jamshoro (RBOD-1), Kambar Shahdadkot and Jacobabad (RBOD-III).The CM and the Wapda chairman agreed to form an expert committee, comprising members from the water and power authority and the irrigation department.

This committee will study the issues surrounding the RBOD-I and RBOD-III to facilitate the eventual handover of the projects to the Sindh government.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024