Water theft in Karachi won’t be tolerated: SC

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to continue operations against illegal hydrants and water connections in the city, warning that action will be taken against officers if illegal hydrants were found in future. The court dismissed 24 applications seeking operation of water hydrants and observed that illegal water hydrants would not be permitted in the city. Water theft in Karachi will not be tolerated, it added.
Hearing applications against illegal hydrants, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar inquired from the advocate general Sindh as to what action had been taken against illegal hydrant operators and officers conniving with them. Advocate General Sindh Zamir Ghumro submitted that the KWSB took action against 193 illegal hydrants, while 2,130 illegal connections were disconnected. He said six hydrants operating in each district were auctioned. The court observed that water theft is a major problem and directed the MD KWSB to stop water theft from the main water lines.
The court directed the MD KWSB to submit an undertaking that no illegal hydrants were operating in the city, warning that action will be taken against relevant officer if the undertaking was breached. MD KWSB Hashim Raza Zaidi submitted that KWSB is taking action against illegal hydrants and several of them have been dismantled. He assured the court that the operation against illegal hydrants will be taken wherever they were found. He said a policy about sub-soil water had also been submitted to the court for perusal.
The court also rejected the review applications filed by water tankers association and sub-soil hydrant owners observing they had no vested rights in the suo moto proceedings. The Supreme Court observed the court does not want to interfere in the policy matters of KWSB, which has reduced the water hydrants to six. Disposing of the suo moto proceedings, the court directed the MD KWSB to submit periodic reports about action against illegal hydrants and illegal water connections.