KARACHI, May 10: The Rangers formally handed over the tanker water supply system to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) at a ceremony held here on Saturday at the Rangers’ Headquarters.

A list of consumers receiving free-of-cost water supply through the daily tanker service was also provided to the managing director of the KWSB, Ghulam Arif Khan.

Speaking at the press conference held on the occasion, the deputy director-general, Rangers, Brig Latif, recalled that in April 1999, when the Hub reservoir had dried up, the government of Sindh entrusted the Rangers with the responsibility of running the water tankers service so as to ensure supply of water to various areas of Karachi, particularly Baldia, Orangi, Surjani, Lyari, Keamari and Site towns.

He said that the Sindh government had been spending huge amounts on the payments to contractors for free-of-cost water distribution.

Brig Latif said that the Rangers were tasked to make the scheme self-generating/ financing. Accordingly, a system was devised to generate funds and to make it a viable project through streamlining the procedures, he added.

He said that the Rangers had successfully performed this important national task for over nine year during which it strived to supply 15mgd (2.3 per cent of the total requirement) of water from the nine hydrants under its control through contractors on a daily basis.

The official said that after taking over the tanker service, the Rangers ensured around 800 free trips to various katchi abadis daily.

He said that currently around 3,000 gratis trips were supplied on a daily basis in the areas of Baldia, Lyari, Orangi, SITE, Surjani, North Karachi towns, Shirin Jinnah Colony, Manzoor Colony, Malir City, Saudabad, Model Colony Korangi, Landhi, Quaidabad, Muzzafarabad Colony, Sikanderabad, Kharadar, Mithadar, PIB Colony, Khudadad Colony, Lines Area, Soldier Bazaar, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Gulzar-i-Hijri.

He informed the newsmen that the Rangers had spent around Rs30 million to upgrade the installations at different hydrants.

“Now the water crisis in Karachi has been considerably controlled and authorities have decided to transfer the responsibilities of water tanker service back to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board,” he said.

He thanked the Karachiites and the KWSB for extending their support to the Rangers during the entire period.

The official requested the citizens of Karachi to cooperate with the KWSB regarding their applications for water supply and complaints.

Replying to a question, the chief of the KWSB said that the water board had received the list of the customers of the water tanker service and it would continue to maintain the system.

He said that the requirement of water in deficit areas would be gradually assessed with the cooperation of the relevant town nazims.

The KWSB official pointed out that the Sindh High Court had ordered to put an end to “VIP culture” and to supply tap water to each and every household.

He said that prior to the handing over of the system to the Rangers, the KWSB had been paying between Rs30 million and Rs40 million to contractors.

Responding to a query, he said that some city areas were facing a water shortage because of interruption in water supply due to load-shedding.

He said that the KWSB had started installation of its own generators for an uninterrupted power supply to its pumping stations. He said this year about a dozen generators had been installed, while 13 more would be installed in the next financial year.

Project Director Misbahuddin was also present.—APP