KARACHI, July 3: The Nazim Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, has expressed concern over KWSB’s failure to check water contamination.

He was speaking at separate meetings with the Nazims of union councils of Malir, Landhi and Korangi Towns.

On the occasion, besides concerned Town Nazims, KWSB’s MD Brig Behram Khan and other KWSB officials were also present.

In Malir Town, the UC Nazims highlighted the problems of water and sewerage in their areas and informed the city Nazim that an amount of Rs 25 million would be required for improvement of sewerage system.

He was informed that in Jaffer Tayyar Colony, Malir, the land control is not with the City Government.

In Landhi Town, the Town Nazim told Naimatullah Khan that the KWSB staff had, in an organized manner, provided illegal water connections to factories and cattle-pens while necessary measures were not being taken to check water contamination.

The Nazims of Korangi Town apprised the City Nazim about problems of their respective areas.

On the occasion, decision was taken for improvement of sewerage lines in Qayyumabad and Bilal Colony under Khushhal Pakistan Programme and the work will be started in next few months.

Addressing the Nazims, Naimatullah Khan said that the KWSB had been given a clear policy to check water contamination on a priority basis, no matter if they had to work during night also.

He said this task be carried out on an emergency basis and no advance approval would be required for this. He said this issue purely relates to human health and it would be a serious offence if it is deliberately avoided.

He called upon the Nazims, councillors and KWSB officials to solve this problem through collective efforts.

The City Nazim directed that illegal connections in residential areas be regularised.

He assured the Nazims that a coordinated programme is under implementation for solving water and sewerage problems in kachchi abadis.

He pointed out that Rs one billion would be required to complete the sewerage network in kachchi abadis whereas water survey would be completed within a week.

Naimatullah Khan assured that Town and UC Nazims will be taken into confidence before starting water and sewerage development works.

He told the meetings that he had started these visits to have a detailed inter-action with the Nazims on water and sewerage problems and to seek suggestions from them.

He said so far he had visited 16 Towns and this has helped develop close liaison between elected representatives and KWSB officials. He hoped that the problems of citizens would be solved and the city government will emerge successful in ensuring the supply of clean and required quantity of water to people.

Nazim Jamshed Town, Ahmad Parekh, taking cognizance of provision of contaminated water to some localities which fall under his town, has issued directives to concerned authorities to rectify the situation and mitigate the sufferings of inhabitants of the affected union councils.

Accompanied by Town Municipal Officer, Syed Moinuddin during his extensive visits to affected areas, he reviewed current situation of water and sewerage lines and stressed officials to undertake emergency measures in this regard.—APP/PPI