KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation on Tuesday directed the provincial government to take steps for the construction of other components of the K-IV project to make it functional within the stipulated time.

The head of the commission, retried SC Justice Amir Hani Muslim, was hearing an application against frequent realignments in the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, better known as the K-IV project.

After hearing officials and consultant of the project, the commission observed that the PC-I prepared and approved lacked other components, in the absence of which the K-IV project could not be completed.

When the representative of the consultant was confronted by the commission, he candidly conceded that the PC-I lacked some components such as bridges and culverts, adding that a power plant had to be installed to run K-IV.

Consultant concedes that the PC-I lacks components such as bridges and culverts

The project director and consultant said that the augmentation of the project was also required for which the Sindh government needed to take immediate steps so that by the time of completion these components were also put in place.

The chief secretary informed the commission that in addition to the PC-I, there would be three independent PC-Is prepared by the relevant departments with regard to ancillary services to the K-IV project, an augmentation plan for the provincial metropolis and establishment of a power plant for the project.

The commission directed the Sindh government to take steps in this regard so that by the time the ongoing project was completed, these other ancillary works and the power plant must be constructed and made available to ensure that the project would start functioning at the stipulated time.

The managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board said that PC-I for the augmentation plan, a component of the K-IV project, had been submitted to the planning and development department. However, prima facie it had not been processed under the impression that this component was hit by a ban imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan last month.

Justice Muslim directed the P&D department to immediately process the PC-I for the augmentation plan as the ban imposed by the ECP would not affect the schemes which came under the direct supervision of the water commission.

The commission also heard arguments from Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, lawyer for the applicant, and additional advocate general Sarwar Khan.

The counsel for the applicant clarified that an area, which was subject matter of these proceedings in this application, was not part of any litigation before the Sindh High Court.

The commission said that the only objection of the counsel was that the original plan did not reflect that the land in question was required for the project but a subsequent plan of 2017 reflected that the land was required.

The commission directed the consultant of the K-IV project to submit a detailed reply.

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 the realignment of the project was based on mala fide intention to achieve an ulterior motive and to give benefit to Bahria Town Karachi and pleaded that the realignments in the K-IV project be set aside.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018