KARACHI, Oct 11: The existing water supply and sewerage system in Karachi has almost collapsed and if more water is release into the already leaking lines, they will burst.

This was stated by the Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, at a Rotary Club programme held in a local hotel on Thursday. He said one cause of the water shortage in the city was the faulty distribution system, and Rs5 billion was needed to improve it.

He stressed that the system needed to be replaced before the commencement of the 100mgd (K-3) water supply scheme. However, he said, the city government did not have that much resources. He said the improvement of water supply system needed Rs3 billion and Rs2 billion was needed for the improvement of the sewerage system.

Naimatullah Khan reiterated that resources of the city government were quite insufficient to solve the city’s problems and, therefore, the Federal Government had been appealed to provide a special package for Karachi.

He said Karachi had a special position in the country, but it been ignored in the past by the successive governments.

The Nazim said that a package had been prepared to solve the city’s transport problem envisaging an increase in the number of long-chassis buses and some 200 new buses would be on city roads during the next few months.

He said a policy was in the making whereby silencers would be fitted in rickshaws.

Mr Khan, however, admitted that an improvement in the existing sanitary conditions would take time because the existing resources were inadequate.

He said 25 per cent of the existing machinery and vehicles were out of order and Rs33.6 million had been provided to the Towns for their repair on an emergency basis.

Referring to encroachments, he said a mafia was working behind their appearance. He said the city government took oath on Aug 13 and cabins were put in the Saddar area on the mid-night between Aug 13 and 14 whereas in Malir a full market of shops was constructed overnight.

He said although the issue of encroachments related to the Towns, the city government would extend all-out assistance to tackle it and the task would begin from footpaths.

The City Nazim said they had inherited the broken roads and streets and their repair work had been taken in hand.

He said only two months had passed and whatever was possible, they had carried out development works, and the road construction would continue with the passage of time.

Naimatullah said tree plantation programme was being given a final shape to make Karachi a green city and 0.1 million plants would be planted in the first month of the programme.

He said efforts were being made to associate the citizens with this programme and for this purpose the elected people was talking to communities and NGOs.

Regarding the generation of revenues, the Nazim demanded that the city government must get sea dues as a matter of right.

Similarly, he said, efforts would be made to improve the city’s fire brigade network. —APP