KWSB to issue show-cause notices to ghost employees

Judicial commission also directs Centre, Sindh to submit reports on K-IV project

KARACHI: The judicial commission directed on Saturday the managing-director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to issue show-cause notices to ghost employees of the water utility's laboratories.

Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro of the Sindh High Court (SHC), who is heading the Supreme Court-appointed one-man inquiry commission, issued this directive during implementation proceedings at the SHC.

Justice Kalhoro observed that there had been complaints regarding the absence of the staff working at the water board's laboratories. He inquired from KWSB's MD about the staff’s absence and why action was not being taken against them in accordance with the law.

KWSB MD Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi assured that action would be taken against such employees.

The commission directed him to issue show-cause notices to the employees who were not turning up for their duties but were drawing their salaries regularly.

The commission came down hard on the federal and provincial authorities for failing to submit reports regarding progress on the long-awaited K-IV project, which is designed to provide additional water to the port city from Keenjhar Lake in district Thatta to the Hub Canal.



On May 20, the federal secretary for planning and development had informed the commission that matters related to the K-IV project had been deliberated upon in a meeting of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He had assured that the project will be completed soon with federal government funding. But, he had brought nothing in writing to augment his claim.

Therefore, the commission had directed the federal secretary and concerned provincial authorities to inform the commission, in writing, as to what steps were being taken by them to complete the long-delayed and much-needed water project.

On Saturday, the federal and provincial authorities requested for more time to file reports, saying the same could not be done as they were busy in the annual budget for the current fiscal year.

This irked the commission, which came down hard on them for not complying with its directives.

The federal secretary informed the commission that the federal government had allocated an adequate amount in the current budget for the K-IV and sewerage projects in Karachi.

Justice Kalhoro observed that considerable time had already passed, adding that going through more reports will take another six months.

He cautioned the federal and provincial officers that the commission will be allowing time for only a specific period of time, after which action will be taken against those found responsible.



However, allowing the requests, the commission granted them time till June 17 to file the reports.

Ban on high-rise buildings

The commission also directed the lawyer to satisfy it on the maintainability of the petition filed by the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) pleading to lift the ban on the construction of high-rise and multi-storey buildings in Karachi.

The association informed the court that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had, in compliance with the commission's directives, imposed a ban on the construction of buildings beyond ground plus two floors.

It argued that there was no law restricting construction of high-rise projects. It also maintained that the multi-storey and high-rise buildings were not causing water-related problems.

The commission was informed that the ban was hampering commercial activities, as the builders and developers were suffering huge financial losses.

However, the commission questioned the maintainability of their petition to lift the ban. It directed the association's lawyer to make arguments on June 17.



The KWSB MD filed a statement regarding work on the maintenance of water pipelines and the regulation of water tankers service. He said that the city had a vast network of water supply pipelines, which will be replaced in different phases. However, he explained that the project’s PC-I for the maintenance of the existing water pipelines had been sent to the provincial government for its approval. The board is now awaiting funds for the project.

Regarding the regulation of water hydrants, the Zaidi said a meeting of the water board and Rangers authorities was held on April 24 wherein new rates for hydrants and water tankers were fixed.

He explained that a water hydrant had been set up in six districts of Karachi in compliance with the SC's directives, adding that the same had been handed over to private contractors for operations according to the law.

He explained the water tanker operators will charge Rs1,000 per 1,000 gallons of water, while Rs1,300 will be charged for 2,000 gallons, Rs1,700 for 3,000 gallons and Rs2,800 for 5,000 gallons.

He said each hydrant will charge Rs268 per fill from the water tanker, adding that contractors will send their bills to the water board clearly mentioning the details of quantity of water supplied to the Rangers, police and other government departments. Each hydrant will being selling 40% of the water to the general public at domestic rates, while the remaining 60% will be sold at commercial rates, he added.