KWSB, CBC join hands to solve water problems

KWSB agrees to give nine million gallons of water per day to the Clifton Cantonment Board.

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has agreed to give nine million gallons of water per day (MGD) to the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) after the chairman KWSB met the station commander to sort out their water dispute on Saturday.

According to CBC officials, Water Board Chairman Sajjad Hussain Abbasi met Brigadier Anees, the new president of CBC, so that the prevalent water shortage in the area could be dealt with.

“The KWSB has assured a supply of 9MGD water to the CBC areas but this has yet to happen,” said Chief Operating Officer CBC Mohammed Hayat Mahr, adding that he hoped the matter would be resolved soon. “The CBC president was assured that the water will be supplied in time,” he said.

According to CBC Vice President Aziz Suharwardy, there were illegal hydrants in Chakra Goth.

These hydrants stole water from the main supply and thereby caused a decrease in the water pressure.

“Around three illegal hydrants built in an area of 500 yards were the main reasons for low supply of water to the CBC areas,” Suharwardy claimed.

“The CBC president has also asked relevant authorities to speed up the process of arresting those criminals who are behind water theft,” he said.

Areas that are most affected by the scarcity of water include Delhi Colony, Punjab Colony, Chandio village, Jamhoria Colony, Hazara Colony, Madinabad, Khaliq Zaman Colony, Lower Gizri, Bukshan village and Lower Staff Naval Colony.

Reverse osmosis plants

To completely overcome water shortage, the CBC has also planned to establish reverse osmosis (RO) plants. Suharwardy said that various sites have been identified for RO plants  in Korangi but they have not been finalised yet.

Illegal hydrants disconnected

KWSB took action against illegal hydrants and cut more than 40 connections in Landhi, Bin Qasim, Zaman Town, Ibrahim Hyderi and Chakra Goth.

The KWSB also demolished pumping stations supplying water to the hydrants. However, no arrests were made during the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.