The recent decision by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB ) to close its last six water hydrants is meant to make it harder for people to steal water. The actual effect is likely to be the opposite, as the price of water in the city will increase, while doing little to thwart the water tanker mafia. The hydrants were meant to serve those residents who did not have access to piped water, but the KWSB could do little to compete with the hundreds of illegal hydrants in the city. Over the last few months, numerous illegal hydrants were closed but the net effect was still negligible. Despite the closure of the official hydrants, the tanker mafia will still continue to steal water from the piped system and sell it at a high margin to consumers. In fact, it will probably cite these closed hydrants as an excuse to justify a further increase in prices. Some would say that the reason the KWSB has taken only this cosmetic measure is because some elements within it may be colluding with the tanker mafia. Meanwhile, those who suffer will be the residents who will notice a significant drop in the water pressure supplied to them along with intermittent supply.
What is needed to combat the tanker mafia are concrete reforms. One such reform would be to introduce water metres in the city so we can keep track of exactly how much water is being consumed in each area and household. Then, like the KESC does with electricity, it could reduce the supply of water to those areas where there is more theft. It could also check for theft at the source. Currently, the KWSB uses acoustic-sensory devices to detect if water is escaping from a pipe, but this method is better suited for leaks than theft. Standard international techniques, like devices sending a signal if there is a change in the pressure waves along pipes, would be more effective. As long as elements within the KWSB are colluding with the tanker mafia, however, such reforms are just pipe dreams.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2012.
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We need to assess exact water requirements for our urban center to ensure sustained development of our cities. The environmental pressures are on increase, population is growing fast in urban centers than national average and financial crunch is undermining our developmental strategy. Along such constraints our policy makers are groping for easy ways. Thriving of tanker mafias in Karachi is one manifestation.
The solution of Pakistan's resource distribution lies in the application of modern technology built-in with the concept to promote accountability as well as prompt delivery of natural resources. Unfortunately, we are failed to understand the market-supply-management relationship. Water, food, fuel and electricity are basic amenities in modern days's life which must be available at door steps. For Karachi only, identification of water catchment areas is important. Three major water catchment areas around Karachi exit within the vicinity of 100 Kms for supply of fresh water including Indus river. Underground water grid is required to build to move water from surplus regions to Karachi. Public -Private -Partnership model is needed to explore for attracting investors for such infrastructural projects. People would be ready to join for such partnership if negotiated fairly.Moreover, technological measures must be applied to prevent wastage of water transmission from the source to the doorsteps.