SC tells DHA to make its desalination plant operational

Bench directed KWSB chief to increase number of fire stations in city

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) directed on Thursday the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to make its desalination plant operational in order to overcome the water crisis in the neighbourhood.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, also directed the chief secretary to submit a report on the availability of the desalination plants in the city.



These directives came after the bench heard the application against the functioning of illegal water tankers in the city.

Water shortage

The city faces a shortage of 555 million gallons of water on daily basis, said Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director, Misbahuddin Farid. The situation will be controlled once the K-4 project is completed, he added.

There is only one desalination plant in DHA, noted the bench members. The plant is currently non-operational, they added.

Karachi Port Trust (KPT) also has installed a desalination plant that supplies one million gallon of water, said Farid. But, it only caters to KPT needs only, he added. The apex court directed the DHA authorities to make their water desalination plant operational at the earliest.

Fire-related emergencies

There are six fire stations operating under Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, said Farid while responding to judges' enquiry into the number of fire stations in the city and how they access water. All the stations have their own water storage arrangements, he claimed. Other civic agencies also have their fire stations, he added.

The bench directed Farid to ensure that the number of the fire stations is increased in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th,  2015.