May 13, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

KARACHI, May 12: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has decided to dismantle two hydrants, both located in Muslimabad, in pursuance of a Sindh High Court decision. The board took control of the facilities — Muslimabad Hydrant and Sydnum Hydrant — after they were formally handed over to it on Saturday by the Rangers.

The court had ordered shifting of the hydrants to some other area when a petitioner complained that the frequent shuttling of water tankers had become a permanent source of nuisance for the residents of Muslimabad, Catholic Colony, Shikarpur Colony and Khudadad Colony while the several roads including Dadabhoy Nauroji Road, Shahrah-i-Quaideen and a portion of Kashmir Road were ruined by the vehicles often plying with leaking valves. The petitioner had also complained of breach of the local residents’ privacy, indicating that the tankers’ crew would keep sitting atop their vehicles, often parked in these localities, and peeping into the houses.

Sources in the KWSB said that the board was yet to take a decision about the shifting of another two hydrants located in residential areas.

The hydrants, one located at Water Pump in Federal B’ Area and the other near Sakhi Hassan in North Nazimabad, are also blamed for the destruction of roads and traffic jams in these localities.