Water sources inspection: Immediate steps ordered for protecting reservoir on Manghopir Hill

Commission directed the police officials to immediately stop the illegal activities in Manghopir Hill

KARACHI: Immediate steps must be taken to protect the water reservoir of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board's (KWSB) filtration plant located on the Manghopir Hill, ordered the judicial commission set up to probe into the allegations regarding non-provision of potable water and deteriorating sanitation conditions in Sindh.

Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro of the Sindh High Court (SHC), who is heading the commission established in compliance with the orders passed by the Supreme Court (SC), passed these directives a day after visiting the filtration plant as part of water sources inspection in different cities.

At the outset of Friday's proceedings, Justice Kalhoro recalled that during his visit to the Manghopir filtration plant on January 11, the KWSB officials had shown the areas of Manghopir Hill where illegal sand and stone excavation was going on. The officials had informed that it was the same hill where the reservoir of water of Manghopir filtration plant was situated. The officials had apprehended that if excavation activity was not checked, the infrastructure of the plant, including the water reservoir, could cave in and lead to devastation. Therefore, the commission had summoned West DIG Zulfiqar Larik and SSP Nasir Aftab. Both the officers appeared before the commission and confirmed the facts.

The commission confronted the police officers about the facts regarding sand and stone excavation that posed threats to the water reservoir. DIG Larik and SSP Aftab gave an undertaking that they were ready to extend cooperation to the authorities of the KWSB to stop illegal mining and sand and stone excavation in the area.

The DIG further promised to establish a police picket on the site for the purpose of monitoring the Manghopir Hill where the facility of the filtration plant exists and ensuring its security.

The assistant director of the mines and mineral development department, Rashid Amir, also verified that no licences for mining over Manghopir Hill had been granted to anyone. He stated that if any such activity was going on at the site, it was illegal.

The commission directed the police officials concerned, including the DIG and SSP, to immediately stop the illegal activity of mining and lifting of sand from Manghopir Hill at the site of the filtration plant.

Justice Kalhoro further directed them to take all the steps provided in the law, including the establishment of the police picket on the site. He also sought a compliance report within two days.

District West's deputy commissioner, Muhammad Asif Jameel, assured the commission that action will be taken against encroachers who have occupied the area of the Manghopir Hill, which had been allotted to the water and sewerage utility.

KWSB's superintendent engineer of bulk pumping, Zafar Palejo, said that he will visit the deputy commissioner's office today (Saturday) along with all the relevant records pertaining to the land allocated to the KWSB, which was under encroachment so that concerted action can be initiated against the encroachers.

Treatment and RO plants in Karachi

Korangi SITE Association's general secretary, Nehal Akhtar, informed the commission that there were 3,500 industrial units of various kinds in the Korangi Industrial Area, adding that some had inbuilt treatment plants. To the commission's query, he admitted that he was sharing such information on the basis of hearsay. He further admitted having no relevant statistics to establish his claim.

Landhi SITE Association's member, Akhtar Ali Khan, said that there were 200 industrial units in all in Landhi Industrial Area. Regarding the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency's (Sepa) officials examining the treatment plants, he replied that Sepa officials sometimes visit their units. Khan recalled that one official had visited his own unit four months back.

The association's office-bearer assured the commission that he will submit all the information regarding inspection of the industrial units to the commission on January 14 (today).

The commission also inquired about the status of the reverse osmosis (RO) plants installed in Sikandarabad and Manghopir localities.

KWSB's deputy managing director, Asadullah Khan, informed the commission that the said RO plants will become operational within one week. The commission adjourned hearing till Saturday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2017.