K-E workers cutting power to pumping stations will be arrested: LG minister

Sindh Assembly dedicates entire session to discussion on water crisis

KARACHI: The government is planning to arrest officials of K-Electric (K-E) who are involved in carrying out load-shedding at pumping stations, announced local government minister Sharjeel Memon.

He was addressing the Sindh Assembly during Friday's session when he pointed out that the electricity utility carries out load-shedding at the pumping stations despite court orders to exempt them. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has paid K-E Rs4 billion of its outstanding dues, said Memon.

"My department took action against several illegal hydrants but what can we do if the mafia running these hydrants get stay orders from the court?" he said, referring to an illegal hydrant in Muslimabad, whose owner received a stay order.

Adjournment motion

The water crisis in Karachi had upset so many lawmakers that they decided to dedicate the entire session on Friday debating the causes of the shortage. The adjournment motion was moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Muhammad Hussain. Some lawmakers demanded handing over the management of the water board to the Rangers while others suggested handing it over to a committee comprising members of the opposition in the assembly.

Meanwhile, the government proposed running KWSB's affairs with the help of a management committee comprising industrialists, traders, politicians, journalists and civil society members. "The management committee will have full authority to take any kind of action," said Memon. "It will even have the power to appoint or transfer the managing director of KWSB."

MQM's Erum Farooque believes that the third world war will be over the issue of water. "I also perceive future riots [to take place] over the water crisis, not ethnicity and language," she said, demanding more funds to be allocated to the water board.

Internal issues

Most lawmakers agreed that illegal hydrants were a big factor but there were some employees of the water board involved in worsening the crisis. "I have personally witnessed KWSB officials giving illegal connections to factory owners and industries," said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Khurram Sher Zaman. "Water is available but mismanagement is the big issue." Zaman claimed that political appointments in the water board have made the water board inefficient.

The water crisis is the greatest failure of the Sindh government, said Pakistan Muslim League — Functional's Mahtab Akbar Rashdi. "The tanker mafia and officials in the government are working hand and glove," she said. "There is no one to check the exorbitant prices of water tankers that have now doubled to Rs4,000 from Rs2,000."

PTI's Hafeezuddin diverted the attention of the House towards pumping stations that were established in 1958 and have not been renovated since. Karachi needs 1,000 million gallons per day (MGD) but it receives only 550MGD, he pointed out. "There will be no water crises if [water supply] is managed properly with the accountability of KWSB officials," he said.

Way forward

Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, who recently visited the Dhabeji pumping station along with his party members, said the hydrant mafia sells water worth millions of rupees depriving citizens of their basic right. "I ask the government to give full authority to the opposition to resolve the water crises," he said, promising to resolve the issue in three months.

There is no system to measure the level of inflow and outflow at the pumping stations, said Hassan, stressing the need to install meters to gauge water supply.

Memon pointed out that the government will start work on the K-4 project this month to supply an additional 60-65MGD to Karachi from River Indus. "We have also hired a consultant and approached the federal government to release its due share in the project," he said.

Free tankers

The local government minister announced that they will supply 190 water tankers free of charge to those areas who suffer from acute water shortage. He also suggested residents complain at their helpline if a tanker charges exorbitant rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2015.