KARACHI: 50pc private hydrants operate illegally
KARACHI, June 3: At least 100 out of over 200 private hydrants operating in different parts of the city have reportedly acquired illegal water connections from KWSB pipelines, it has been reliably learnt.Most of such hydrants are set up at Ayub Goth, near Super Highway, Korangi No 2 1/2, Chamra Chowrangi, Chakra Goth, Sherpao Colony, Landhi and Manghopir.
Sources said that illegal hydrant operators were doing a roaring business in connivance with KWSB officials, the locality’s town municipal administration and the area police. They said such an act on their part was not only creating water shortage in the localities where they existed but also damaging roads and streets.
They said as most of such hydrants had acquired illegal water connections from pipelines and mains, the localities hooked to such pipelines got reduced supply of water. “In Manghopir alone, suction pumps have been installed at 40 to 45 hydrants to steal water from the KWSB pipelines through illegal connections and fill tankers,” the sources said, adding that a tanker of 1,000-gallon capacity is filled in less than one minute while an eight-wheeler tanker having a capacity of 5,000 gallons starts overflowing in four minutes.
Although rangers had conducted raids on illegal hydrants and had even seized their suction pumps last year, the sources said, such hydrants had once again been made operational in connivance with the KWSB officials concerned, the locality’s town and the area police.
The water drawn by illegal hydrants is meant for drinking purpose but it is supplied to factories and industries, the sources said. Besides, they said, contrary to the rules that a tanker drawing water from a town’s hydrant would be required to sell or supply water to the residents of the same town, tankers fetching water from a town’s hydrant were also supplying water to the residents of other towns.
However, sources in the water board said it was purely a temporary arrangement and the practice would come to an end as soon as the hydrants of all towns become fully operational.
Clean water project
Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman has, meanwhile, ordered immediate implementation of the Clean Drinking Water for All (CDWA) project, PPI adds
Chairing a meeting held at his office on Tuesday, the chief secretary said that the cooperation and participation of all stakeholders in the project be ensured so that the project could be initiated at the earliest.
He directed the project implementation unit officials to evolve a strategy by 10 June and report to him on June 12 so that effective steps were taken to implement the project.
The chief secretary expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work and asked all stakeholders to avoid unnecessary discussions and carry out practical work.
He was optimistic that 300 sites would be completed within one month.
Among others, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Nazar Hussain Mahar, Information Secretary Fasihuddin, Local Government Secretary Fazalur Rehman, Special Secretary (Finance) Iqbal Ahsan Zaidi, and DCOs of various districts attended the meeting.