Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Friday approved laying of pipeline from Dumlottee in Gadap Town to Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to provide 10 million gallons per day (MGD).
The CM approved allocation of Rs2.1 billion for laying 24 inch diameter pipeline stretching more than 29 kilometres to bring water to the upscale locality.
Baqar approved Rs16.8 billion in development schemes for Karachi and directed the finance department to release the amount after completing the required formalities.
"I want to start some important schemes such as 65MGD additional supply scheme, the 10MGD water supply scheme and wastewater treatment plants, TP-I and TP-2 so that work on water supply and treatment plants can be started," the CM said.
The meeting held at CM House and was attended by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Sindh Local Government Department Secretary Manzoor Shaikh, Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, Secretary Transport Asad Zaim, Municipal Commissioner KMC Afzal Zaidi and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation CEO Engineer Salahuddin Ahmed.
Read CM suspends Sindh Textbook Board chairman
The CM was told that Karachi has an approved water quota of 1,200 cubic feet per second or cusecs equalling to around 650MGD from the Indus River, conveyed through KWSC system. The existing bulk water supply system includes canals, conduits, pumping stations, and filter plants for the transportation of water to Karachi.
The project aims at utilising the available 65MGD capacity from Keenjhar-Gujjo Canal. Mayor Karachi told the CM that the project has an exclusive right of way (RoW) which is available and has no encumbrance.
The CM was told that the project was being started through public-private partnership (PPP) mode but it was taking time. At this, the CM directed Planning and Development Department to approve the scheme within 10 days and directed the Finance Dept to release Rs4.5 billion so that work on the project could be started.
Water Supply to SITE
The Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate requires 50 MGD, but it is getting only 1.63 MGD. The CM directed KWSC to improve its system by replacing its old lines and rehabilitate Nazimabad pumping station so that at least 6 MGD water could be supplied to SITE. The CM approved Rs2.1 billion for the water supply to SITE Ltd.
The CM approved an amount of Rs5 billion and directed the water board to start the project for capacity expansion of sewerage treatment plants.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2023.
1714129906-0/Clint-Eastwood-(1)1714129906-0-270x192.webp)
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ