SC tells chief secy to appear today

Karachi
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued a notice to the provincial chief secretary to inform the court of payments made to private contractors engaged in installation of hydrants and supply of water through tankers.
The court was hearing applications filed against illegal operation of hydrants in the city and the consequent damage to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s (KWSB) water lines in different areas of the city.
KWSB MD Misbahuddin Fareed, in compliance with court orders, submitted a policy report regarding water distribution in the metropolis and provided details of cases in which hydrant owners had obtained stay orders.
However, the court asked for a detailed report to be submitted since the current report did not contain the necessary details.
The court observed that citizens were compelled to buy water from water tanker mafias, charging high rates due to a lack of management by the KWSB.
To a query pertaining to water supply through pipelines, the MD submitted that there were sufficient pipelines n the city to distribute water to all localities; hence, there was no need for residents to purchase water through tankers.
He submitted that hydrant contractors had acquired stay orders from the high court in a number of cases pertaining to removal of illegal hydrants because of which the tanker mafias continue to illegally supply water.
He said that if all concerned authorities including the law enforcement agencies cooperated and dues of the contractors were paid, the KWSB would be in a position to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the city.
SC’s two member bench, headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, issued a notice to the provincial chief secretary and asked him to appear before the court on September 17.