KARACHI: Expressing displeasure over the absence of the defence secretary, the Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation on Monday directed him to file an undertaking within a week for the installation of a sewage treatment plant in Defence Housing Authority.

The head of the commission, retired SC Justice Amir Hani Muslim, also asked the defence secretary to ensure that all sewage lines of DHA Phase VIII were connected with a treatment plant within four months.

On May 15, the commission had summoned the defence secretary over the release of untreated sewage into the sea from four points around Seaview beach after DHA officials did not turn up to file the original plan, as was demanded by the SC. The Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) was shifting responsibility onto the DHA.

At the outset, the defence joint secretary, Farooq Hassan, turned up and informed the commission that the defence secretary was out of country on an official tour and was “likely to come back either tonight or tomorrow”.

Justice Muslim expressed extreme displeasure over the absence of the defence secretary and said that if the secretary was not available in the country, the additional secretary must come.

‘DHA desalination plant will be made functional within a year’

He warned that the commission may file a reference in the Supreme Court for taking appropriate action against the defence secretary.

Additional attorney general Salman Talibuddin conceded that the beach was being polluted and sought time to address the issue.

After hearing the officials, the commission said it was jointly proposed that the defence secretary would furnish an undertaking to the commission for DHA Phase I to VII, which was under the CBC control, assuring it of installation of a sewage treatment plant to cater to the sewerage from these phases.

Similarly, the defence secretary will also incorporate in the proposed undertaking that all sewerage pipes/lines of Phase VIII must be connected with the treatment plant installed near Creek Vista adjacent to Golf Club within four months, it added.

The commission ruled that the proposed undertaking would bind the relevant officials of the CBC and the DHA.

The CBC chief executive officer contented that the advertisement for commissioning of the sewage treatment plants inviting tenders would be published within a couple of days after completion of the formalities.

The CBC will contract out the work to the successful bidder and the treatment plant will be made functional by December this year, he added.

The additional attorney general assured the commission that the proposed undertaking of the defence secretary would be submitted by May 28.

Justice Muslim said that besides the four points, the restaurants leased out and constructed on Seaview and Do Darya had no mechanism for lifting solid or liquid waste, which was also drained directly into the sea.

He deplored that all the storm-water drains of the city had been converted into sewage drains.

The commission also heard officials of the DHA and the CBC on the issue of providing potable water to the people residing in their jurisdictions.

Justice Muslim asked the officials why they were developing new sectors and schemes and allowing constructions when they had failed even to provide drinking water to the people.

He warned that a ban could be imposed on new constructions till the issue of potable water was resolved. However, the DHA secretary informed the commission that they would install reverse osmosis plants while the desalination plant would also be made functional within a year.

The commission snubbed the DHA official and said that despite the passage of around nine years, they could not make the desalination plant operational.

Syed Asif Hyder Shah, a member of the task force, informed the commission that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was incapable of fulfilling the DHA’s water requirement. The commission directed Mr Shah to interact with DHA and CBC officials for the immediate provision of clean potable water and file a report by May 28.

Realignments in K-IV project

The commission summoned the former project director of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, better known as K-IV project, for Tuesday.

On the directive of the commission, the consultant of the K-IV project turned up on Monday to justify the realignments in the project 22 times.

However, the commission said that he tried to shift the burden onto the project director by claiming that the land within the project was required to be obtained and since it had not been acquired, he had to realign the project on the project director’s directions.

The assistant commissioner of Malir said that the statement of the consultant was contrary to the record. He added that the land was acquired and was available apart from an area of five kilometres, which was under dispute.

The commission directed former project director Saleem Siddiqui to turn up on May 22 to file an explanation that who compelled him to direct realignment of the K-IV project.

“He should also satisfy the commission that he had the authority to issue such directions to the consultant without prior approval of the government as the project is being funded by the provincial and federal governments and alignment of such nature will definitely have bearing on the public exchequer,” it added.

The commission also directed the assistant commissioner to produce the relevant record on Tuesday and asked the consultant to be in attendance during the hearing.

A resident of Usman Allah Rakhio Goth in Gadap Town had filed an application in a previous hearing and contended that the alignment, approved in 2016, was the only straight and shortest possible time/money-saving route.

However, he contended that realignment of the project was based on mala fide intention to achieve ulterior motives and to give benefit to Bahria Town Karachi and pleaded to set aside the realignments in K-IV.

Meanwhile, the commission directed the incumbent project director of the K-VI project to submit a report on May 28 about the issues needed to be attended and execution of work, which was now under way, after consulting with the KWSB managing director.

Water supply to Baldia Town

The commission directed Asif Hyder Shah and the KWSB MD to ensure that Baldia Town residents got their due share of water through the new Baldia hydrant.

Residents of the area complained of a shortage of water. The commission also asked the KWSB chief to ensure that a dedicated water supply line for the area must be completed by June 30.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018