KWSB launch campaign against illegal hydrants

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), during a targeted operation, demolished five illegal hydrants and cut off over a dozen connections taken from main trunk to steal some 12 mgd of water in Mochko Goth, Ittehad Town and various parts of Manghopir. 

The action was taken upon the directives of the Sindh Information and Local Government Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, and the Managing Director, KWSB, Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, who ordered an immediate operation for demolition of illegal hydrants in Baldia Town. 

The Minister had directed the KWSB to take effective measures for ensuring supply of water to citizens on equitable basis and also close down all illegal hydrants in the city’s different areas so that residents of such areas could get rid from water shortage. Instructions were also issued for taking strict action against illegal sale of KWSB water in the name of water boring. 

The Minister was of the view that these measures would ensure provision of stolen water to citizens especially those residing in areas which were affected due to shortage of water and thus bring improvement in water supply in these areas. 

The MD KWSB sternly asked Deputy MD (Technical Services) Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, Chief Engineer, WTM, Zafar Ali Palejo, Chief Security Officer, Major (R) Mohammad Nawaz Gondal, Superintending Engineer, Asif Qadri, to push up campaign against illegal hydrants and water pumping houses all over the city particularly in districts West and Central under a well planned strategy. 

He directed that all those illegal hydrants re-emerged must be demolished with immediate and strict action against those behind their re-emergence as well as water connections. 

Following the directives, the KWSB staff launched a crackdown with the help of police and razed more than three hydrants and their filling points and 6 underground water connections with the help of heavy machinery in various areas of Manghopir including Mashallah Coach Adda, Gulshan-e-Tauheed and Khairabad. 

The hydrants were openly selling 12 mgd water after stealing it from KWSB main lines. A FIR was also being lodged at the concerned police station against water thieves, a KWSB spokesman said. 

Meanwhile the MD KWSB strictly directed DMD Technical Services, Chief Engineer, Superintending Engineer water trunk main and in-charge officer hydrants to follow the Minister’s directives in letter and spirit and mobilize all available resources to elimination water theft in the city.  

It may be noted here that the Supreme Court had also taken suo moto notice against the operation of illegal hydrants.