Illegal water hydrants

In a city as big as Karachi, it is unfortunate that its residents have to suffer so much to obtain a basic necessity like water. Selling water through tankers by tampering with the main water lines is a roaring business that the authorities have failed to curb. People are forced to buy water from those operating private tankers, who get water from illegal hydrants established in nearly every neighbourhood. This happens even though people also make payments to the government for getting water through the main supply lines. In a recent order, the Supreme Court gave strict directions to the local authorities to end the menace of illegal water hydrants. Law enforcers and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were ordered to launch a crackdown against them. While this is welcome news, we still need to see the implementation of these orders. Illegal hydrants continue to function and residents of many areas are still being forced to buy water at exorbitant rates while the supply from their main lines remaining suspended.

Last month, the Rangers came on board the drive against illegal hydrants and vowed to rid the city of at least 15 large illegal hydrants operating in Karachi’s District West. One hopes their involvement will improve matters.

It must be noted that the money that the water tanker mafia has been generating through illegal hydrants has been traced back to militants in other parts of the country. If the crackdown against hydrants is as effective as the law enforcers hope it to be, we may be killing two birds with one stone: the menace of illegal hydrants will be exterminated, ensuring smooth water supply to the city, and secondly, a source of funding for militants will also vanish. The effectiveness of the newfound vigour to stop the operation of illegal hydrants depends on the commitment of local authorities. It is common knowledge that many of those operating these hydrants have political patronage with their roots extending to the Sindh local bodies department. Unless there is resolve to carry out a complete sweep, these hydrants will continue to function.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd,  2015.

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