Judicial commission orders KWSB to take action against water theft

The judicial commission, probing reasons behind the non-provision of clean drinking water, sanitation and a healthy environment to the people of Sindh, on Monday directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to take action against persons who were involved in tampering with main freshwater lines or were stealing water.

The commission, headed by Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, was informed by the KWSB managing director that the subsoil water policy had been made, but it required approval from the government.

He said that after the approval of the policy, it would be converted into regulations. Local government secretary Ramzan Awan submitted that he had seen the draft and made certain suggestions. He said the draft would be finalised today and processed for the approval of the competent authority. He said that such approval would be finalised within two weeks.

The commission said that the KWSB would begin regulating the subsoil water issues in terms of the proposed policy in the intervening period. The local government secretary submitted that the issue of theft of water did not need to be linked with the subsoil water policy and the KWSB may take action against the theft of water immediately without waiting for the approval of the policy.

The commission directed the KWSB to take action against persons involved in tampering with the main water lines or in water theft, and to submit a compliance report. It directed the chairman of the task force to hear the complaints of citizens with regard to the non-supply of water and resolve their issues.

The commission was informed by the KWSB MD that a summary had been floated for the installation of water meters. However, the local government secretary said that after the restriction imposed by the chief election commission, the summaries of this nature could not be approved by the competent authority.

He said the competent authority may approve such a summary subject to the approval of the CEC if a request had been made for the relaxation of the restriction pertaining to the installation of water meters.

The counsel for K-Electric, Abid Zuberi, said that the issue of electric cables on the greenbelt and footpaths would be resolved and obstacles would be removed from all roads, including Sharea Faisal. The commission directed K-Electric to submit a report after removing the hindrances caused by the KE wires along storm drains. On an issue with regard to the cutting off electricity to filter plants, the commission inquired the KE counsel why the electricity of the filter plants had been disconnected. He submitted that electricity was disconnected due to the non-payment of outstanding dues; however, the electricity supply was restored later and negotiations were under way for resolving the payment of the outstanding issue.

The commission directed the secretary of public health engineering, the chief operating officer of Pak Oasis and the chairman of the Sehwan Muncipal Committee to shift one of the filter plants from Bubak to Sehwan from where clean water would be provided to the locality within one week.

The commission made it clear that the locality of Bubak would not be deprived of clean water and other filter plants installed at Bubak would cater to the needs of the area. It directed the chairman and the secretary of Sehwan to ensure the supply of water to Sehwan.

The Karachi mayor’s counsel, Dr Farogh Naseem, submitted that Section 4 of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act comprises the constitution of a board for which meetings could not be held on a regular basis. He suggested that all civic departments should come under the control of the mayor. The commission deferred the matter with regard to the working of the SSWMB for two weeks on the request of the counsel.

It directed the competent authority to call a meeting of the board so that it could take feedback on the working of the SSWMB from the ex-officio members, and observed that the meeting should be called within two weeks.

The commission also took exception to the non-appearance of the DG of the SSWMB and directed him to appear at the next date of the hearing. The issue pertaining to the SSWMB will be taken up on May 2.

On the issue with regard to the installation of pre-treatment plants at factories in industrial areas, the commission directed the counsel for the industries association to submit a report about the steps being taken by the industries for installing pre-treatment plants.

It directed the Karachi Port Trust and other counsel to argue on the application with regard to the shifting of a coal-handling terminal from Shireen Jinnah Colony to other non-residential port area.