Judicial commission inspects two sewage treatment plants

800 water supply schemes non-functional in the province, says public health engineering secretary

KARACHI: Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, the newly-appointed head of the judicial commission on water and sanitation in Sindh, carried out on Saturday physical inspection of sewage treatment plants I and II, located in the SITE and Mehmoodabad areas respectively, to determine whether or not they had been made functional in light of the commission's recommendations as well as the directives of the Supreme Court (SC).

According to judicial sources, Justice (retd) Muslim, while visiting the treatment plant in SITE, conducted a detailed inspection of the building and machines. He came down hard on the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) officers accompanying him.

The commission head observed that apparently no work for the rehabilitation of the plant had been carried out. He also noticed poor state of cleanliness at the plant. Justice (retd) Muslim also checked the attendance register and observed that a new register had been placed. He also found that the KWSB vehicles were in poor condition.

The commission head directed the KWSB authorities to submit a report by tomorrow (Monday) on the rehabilitation work carried out at the plant in question.

Earlier, Justice (retd) Muslim held proceedings of the judicial commission constituted by the SC to investigate the authorities' failure to provide potable drinking water, improve sanitation and curb its impact on the environment in Sindh.



At the onset, petitioner Shahab Usto informed the commission that out of 2,300 water supply schemes for the province, 953 were lying non-functional.

The petitioner disclosed that out of the non-functional schemes, the government selected 539 schemes and allocated funds worth Rs4.59 billion to make them functional. Of the funds, Rs7 million had been spent on the schemes, while Rs4 million was recently released, the petitioner said.

"However, up to 70% of the province still cannot access clean drinking water," the petitioner alleged. "Some schemes even had to be abandoned due to ineligibility of the officers and nepotism," he added.

Justice (retd) Muslim told the provincial chief secretary, provincial advocate-general (AG) and others that the apex court had appointed him not for monitoring the schemes but to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the commission as well as orders passed by the apex court.

He asked AG Barrister Zamir Ghumro to submit a report on the current position of the development schemes in the light of the commission's recommendations and the SC orders within two days. Stern action would be taken against those found delinquent, he warned.



The commission inquired from the law officer whether or not the elements responsible for the corruption and delays in water and sanitation schemes had been identified. He also asked him to explain what long-term and short-term plans the government had made for the purpose.

Addressing the public health engineering secretary, Justice (retd) Muslim made it clear that he had powers either to refer the matters of contempt of court to the SC or refer them to the National Accountability Bureau for inquiry into corruption. He said the secretary could choose from either option.

The commission head told the officers that he was not interested in paperwork and asked them to show what had been achieved practically. He questioned who the elements responsible behind delays in launching 25 development schemes were, to which the secretary said the chief engineer was responsible. This irked Justice (retd) Muslim, who remarked that the secretary himself will be considered responsible for such delays in accordance with the rules.

The secretary informed the commission that 800 water supply schemes were non-functional in the province at the moment. During the hearing, the secretary and petitioner engaged in a heated debate. The commission expressed its displeasure over the secretary's conduct and asked the AG to ensure that government officers do not exhibit such behaviour in the future.

Justice (retd) Muslim told the secretary to either work or relinquish the post, adding that a report on the conduct of the officers could expose them to serious consequences in the apex court.

The commission head asked the chief secretary to submit a report, explaining in whose bank accounts the funds to be used for the repairing of treatment plants were transferred along with title of the accounts by tomorrow.

The chief secretary was also directed to submit a report, mentioning the short-term and long-term planning to address the water related problems in Karachi and rest of the province. The petitioner and Chief Secretary Muhammad Rizwan Memon undertook to submit consolidated plan reflecting the short-term plans to address the issues in these proceedings.



Adjourning the proceedings till January 25, the commission ordered that only the chief secretary along with the secretaries of the relevant departments and the petitioner will be in attendance in the chamber.

"I, however, have put to notice that I will be visiting Karachi and rural Sindh in the intervening period to personally inspect the existing schemes," Justice (retd) Muslim told the officers.

Meanwhile, the commission modified its order issued on January 1, 2017, allowing a plot measuring 135 acres in Shikarpur to be utilised for the purpose of a cattle colony. However, it also ordered the authorities to ensure the arrangement of land for the establishment of a landfill site in Shikarpur within three months and submit a compliance report to the commission.