KARACHI, Nov 13: A city government directive pertaining to the closure of the F. B. Area hydrant is yet to be implemented as tankers continue to operate, hindering the smooth flow of traffic in the area.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan had directed the closure of the hydrant as tankers drawing water from it were not only causing to a damage to the nearby roads but also hindering the smooth flow of traffic at the F. B. Area roundabout.

Sources said shortly after receiving directives from the Nazim, the KWSB officials referred the matter to the rangers.

However, the rangers managing the hydrant are reluctant to close it down, according to Farooq Naimatullah, the Nazim of the Gulberg town, who had a meeting with the rangers. The officials asked the Gulberg Nazim to convince the City Nazim to withdraw his orders owing to the importance of the hydrant.

In support of their contention, the ranges claimed it was the same hydrant which used to fulfil the requirements of F. B. Area and adjoining localities. If the Hub dam again gets dry, the area would again be served from the hydrant, they said.

The sources further said that when the town nazim asked the rangers about the number of tankers provided to the residents of Federal B’ Area and adjoining localities during the period of its operation, they did not give a “satisfactory reply”.

Inquiries revealed that water supply to the entire Federal B’ Area and North Nazimabad was switched over from the Hub source to Indus at the end of 1998 following the completion of the K-2 project, and hence water supply to these localities would not be affected in case the dam again goes dry.

When the Gulberg Town Nazim was contacted, he admitted that the rangers had twice asked him to convince the City Nazim about the utility of the hydrant, saying “who am I to ask the City Nazim to revoke his decision.”

He said the hydrant was not only causing a damage to the nearby roads, but tankers drawing water from it were also creating obstacles in the flow of traffic.

Asked about the delay being caused in implementing the city nazim’s instructions about the closure of the hydrant, a KWSB spokesman said a decision would surely be taken by rangers as the affairs of hydrants were being managed by them.

However, an aide to the city Nazim, Zubair Mansoori, told Dawn that the city government had not yet received a compliance notice in this regard.