A statement issued by Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) officials said that a video circulating on the internet claims to show the KWSC supplying freshwater to industries through illegal connections or illegal hydrants.
In fact, said the officials, it is the groundwater that the previous management of the water board had issued licences for to meet the needs of industries.
They said that the subsoil regulations were framed in 2018 by the previous administration of the water board, under which licences were issued to 34 subsoil operators in 2022, but they were recently repealed by the new management of the water corporation.
They also said the new management has introduced the Ground Water Regulations 2024 for obtaining underground water licences, the main purpose of which is to strictly monitor the indiscriminate use of underground water.
They added that the KWSC has also set up an Anti-Theft Cell to secure freshwater stolen in the name of groundwater, pointing out that the cell has been carrying out grand operations with law enforcement agencies against water thieves since September 2023.
The KWSC officials requested the public to inform the organisation verbally or in writing about water thefts in the city so that strict action can be taken against such elements through the Anti-Theft Cell of the water corporation.