Zaidi announces the water utility’s contingency plan for the approaching summer
The water utility chief said on Wednesday that the electricity company’s “inefficiency”, with persistent interruptions of power supply to the Dhabeji pumping stations, had put the system of providing water to the city at risk.
Addressing his first news conference at his office after taking over as the managing director of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), Hashim Raza Zaidi said all-out efforts were being made for equitable water distribution to the citizens.
Zaidi added that various water projects were near completion and that they would alleviate a lot of the problems that the people had been braving. “Despite limited resources, efforts are under way to provide water to the citizens.”
He said that in view of the Met Office’s forecast of hot weather in the coming months, the KWSB had started implementing its contingency plan, for which a summary had been forwarded to Sindh’s chief minister for supplying free water tankers to the localities where required.
He hoped that with a variety of measures being adopted, the water situation in the city would improve. He said that after completion of three water projects – K-IV and two others that would be capable of supplying 110mgd and 65mgd – the situation would improve further.
‘KE main hurdle’
Lashing out at K-Electric, Zaidi said the government was paying Rs550 million a month to the company but it continued disrupting power supply with sudden breakdowns. “This is causing a lot of damage to the Dhabeji pumping stations.”
Accusing KE of being the main hurdle in smooth water supply to the city, he said the frequent breakdowns caused water shortage and it took the KWSB 72 hours to resume provision of water to the people.
Making changes
Zaidi said strict action would be taken against all employees of the water utility who were involved in corruption. He added that in view of the approaching summer, an immediate ban had been imposed on bulk water supply connections.
On the subject of construction of high-rises across the city, the KWSB chief said a ban had been imposed on water connections to such buildings.
He expressed his disappointment over the performance of the officials of the utility’s recovery department because they failed to achieve their monthly target of retrieving Rs1.3 billion. “Efforts are under way for better recovery. Bulk water consumers usually delay paying their bills.”
Beating the heat
Zaidi said the KWSB had chalked out a comprehensive plan for providing relief to the citizens during hot weather. He said he was keeping a close watch over the water that needed to be stored, adding that Sindh’s local government minister was supporting the KWSB to overcome the shortage.
Elaborating on the utility’s contingency plan, he said bulk meters had been installed at six hydrants through which they would find out how much water was being sold and this would increase the KWSB’s revenue, adding that water theft would also be curbed.
The water utility chief said the valve operation was being strictly monitored, adding that he was personally keeping a check on the valve men as well as the registers listing their duties.
“The valve men’s duty reports are submitted daily to the LG minister because the CM has warned that he will not tolerate any negligence aggravating the water crisis.”
Zaidi hoped that the people of Karachi would not be made to suffer heatstroke or water shortage. He said emergency centres would be set up by the KWSB, even though it was the responsibility of the health department.
He admitted that there was a shortage of water but, he said, the water utility was trying to overcome the crisis. “The Hub Dam has also dried up and demand of water increases during hot weather.”
He said the KWSB was conducting a survey to stop all kinds of leakages that cause water shortage. “Karachi is presently receiving 550mgd against the demand of 1,100mgd.”