KARACHI, May 8: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking of Rs30 million project to supply water to the inhabitants of three islands – Baba, Bhit and Salehabad – near the Karachi coast.

The estimated timeframe for completion of the project is nine months after which over 60,000 residents and fishermen living on the islands for the past 300 years will get 0.5 million gallon daily water.

The nazim maintained that the islands did not fall in the jurisdiction of the city government but considering hardship to the residents, he directed to launch the project and complete it at the earliest.

The city nazim announced that the city government would also set up a model school and a college on the islands.

Unfolding the details of the project, he said two 12km-long pipelines of 10-inch-diametre each will proceed to Baba Island from where the two lines will proceed towards Bhit and Salehabad Islands.

Seven kilometre portion of the lines would be under seawater, he said adding that a firm having expertise in such projects has been hired for the consultancy of the project.

The city nazim said that the connection for the two lines would be provided from the Gulbai Pumping Station near PAF Masroor Base and special PE pipe will be used in the project so that seawater could not cause any damage to them for the next 50 years.

Mr Kamal said the islanders who had never thought of having water in their taps would get drinking water within a short span of time.

Nearly 60,000 inhabitants of these islands had to bring water from Keamari through boats and the locals had to buy this water according to their requirement, he explained.

“When we were informed of the hardships being faced by the residents in getting drinking water, we instantly decided to give water to them,” he added.

The nazim maintained that the city government was serving all areas of the metropolis without any discrimination.