KARACHI, Oct 10: Sindh minister for local government and kachchi abadies Mohammad Hussain Khan said on Tuesday that the KWSB needed to be organized on modern lines, and as such its entire record should be computerized, having all minor details of pipelines and other installations.

Speaking at a briefing of the board which was also attended by City Nazim and chairman of KWSB, Mustafa Kamal, the minister said that the KWSB is an operational institution and hence it should work on war footings, especially for provision of potable water to Karachities.

Mr Hussain said that no department in the city can implement its projects and schemes unless Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is not taken on board.

The KWSB has to generate its own resources and improve recovery and collection of bills to gain financial strength and viability, he observed.

He stressed for more reforms in the board and assured that the local government department would extend all possible help to formulate a sound strategy.

The minister also agreed to the setting up of a reforms committee for bringing institutionalized and financial reforms in the water board.

Referring to the monthly billing system of the board, the minister said that timely distribution of these bills should be ensured.

He appreciated board's scheme of provision of water to 1500 schools and said thousands of students will be benefited from this facility.

He underlined the need for establishment of a training institute for the workforce of KWSB to utilize the expertise of retired technical staff of the board.

At this institute, experienced and retired employees can transfer their knowledge to the comparatively new staff of the board through lectures, seminars, workshops and also by holding regular classes.

It would not only preserve their knowledge but would also ensure better maintenance of the system of the board, he added.

KWSB MD Brig Iftikhar Haider informed the minister that there are over 150 water pumping stations, 25 bulk reservoirs and installations, eight water filter plants and three sewerage treatment plants.

The board has 20 sewerage pumping stations, over 11,000 kilometres of pipelines and 25,000,000 pipeline joints, he added.

It has also 75 kilometres of canals, over 1000 millions gallons of fluids, 400,000 valves, and 250,000 manholes. It has only 2.55 employees per 1,000 consumers and to give a highly effective service this ratio should be enhanced to six employees per 1,000, he added.

He further informed that 18 towns of Karachi have been divided into three zones under zonal chief engineer, Zone-I included Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal and Bin Qasim, Towns Zone-II is comprises Gulshan, Jamshed, Lyari, Liaquatabad, Saddar and Keamari Towns, while Zone-III consists of Baldia, Orangi, SITE, Gadap, North Karachi, Gulberg and North Nazimabad towns.

Informing the minister about K-III project, the managing director said the project has been completed at a cost of Rs6.3 billion and has a capacity of 100mgd for the city.

He said Rs900 million have been allocated for improvement of water and sewerage in 18 towns of Karachi which will be spent equally.

Removal of encroachments over drains and nullahs is under way at various places so as to ensure smooth flow of sewerage and rain water, he added.

He further informed that a study for alternative route for K-IV has been awarded and work on construction of phase-I of K-IV (150mgd) for Karachi would commence in January 2007, he added.

He further added that the first fully equipped customer service centre is being established at 9th Mile Kasaz which will be linked with City District Government Karachi and will function round-the-clock.

A civil society cell has also been established to interact with community and enable user participation, he said.

The managing director further said that the monthly billing system has been adopted from July 2006 and to facilitate consumers now there were 500 branches of five banks receiving these bills.

He said that an amount of Rs500 million have so far been collected from August last while in September 2006, nearly one million bills were distributed. He also requested for constitution of an accountable, independent and effective reforms committee, board of directors or governing body to manage and implement institutional reforms and resolve key issues.—PPI