KARACHI, Dec 2: Rangers will soon hand over the administrative control of the nine hydrants to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, which has planned to establish one hydrant in each town of the metropolis.

Although no exact timeframe has been given by the rangers, who have been operating the nine hydrants for many years, to give the hydrants to the KWSB, sources in the city government say the process will be completed in the beginning of next year.

The sources said that at a recent meeting held between officials of the city government and the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), the rangers expressed willingness to hand over the nine hydrants to the city government.

The sources said that as a result of the rangers’ readiness to hand over the hydrants, the city government planned to establish one hydrant in each of the 18 towns. At another meeting with nazims of all the towns at KWSB head office the other day, the city nazim and the KWSB managing director unfolded a plan to establish one hydrant in each town after closing down the existing nine hydrants located two at Guru Mandir and one each at Sakhi Hassan, F.B. Area, North Karachi, Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Jumma Goth and Landhi.

Mr Kamal assured the town nazims that a mechanism would be adopted before closing the hydrants so that people did not face trouble due to their closure.

He said that some 15,390 tankers supplied water to different city areas from the nine existing hydrants. He maintained according to the new plan one hydrant in each town would be established from where tankers would supply water to the area falling within the jurisdiction of towns concerned where water lines are not laid.

The colour of tankers of every town would be different from one another while a different registration number would be given to each tanker to ensure that tankers of one town could not be used in any other town.

He made it clear that hydrants were being set up on a temporary basis and would work till the completion of work to lay waterlines. After the completion, these hydrants would be used only in emergency situation.