KIV project: City needs 1,200 cusecs more, LG body tells Sindh govt

Plugging leaks and pipes could save up to 40% of drinking water, says standing committee.

KARACHI: The standing committee on local government has recommended the provincial government ensure a supply of 1,200 cusecs of water for the KIV project to meet Karachi’s water requirements.

The meeting was chaired by MPA Haji Munawar Ali Abbasi.

Under the KIV project, Karachi would be given a total of 1,200 cusecs till 2025 but in different stages. Initially it was recommended that the city would be given 260 million gallons per day to overcome the shortage of drinking water. This was part of the first phase, which would be completed in the next four years.

The irrigation department, which has undertaken the project, assured a quota of 1,200 cusecs but linked it to the development of infrastructure to carry water from Kotri to Keenjhar via KIV. Abbasi said that during the meeting the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) was called upon to plug the leaks and line losses by replacing rusted and old water pipelines.

However, two MPAs of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Khalid Ahmed and Rehan Zafar, insisted that 1,200 cusecs be provided without linking it to the development of infrastructure.

The problem is that Karachi’s population is increasing rapidly due to industrialisation and economic activities and a number of housing schemes are being developed. This will all need water whose demand cannot be met by the existing supply from the water board.

According to a draft report, Karachi’s need according to World Health Organisation standards for developing countries, is about 1,000 MGD. The city had 690 MGD at present.

The standing committee recommended the government tell the Sindh Building Control Authority to ensure that old pipelines are replaced in houses to plug leaks and old underground water tanks are also fixed. This alone could save 40% of drinking water.

It was recommended that in future no building plan should be approved without the water board’s stamp of approval. Besides this, the revenue department should also ensure that no property that is not approved by the water board should be registered.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2012.