KARACHI: A task force constituted by Sindh government with secretary agriculture as its head on water hydrants running under Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has submitted its report to Water Commission. In their report, the task force has revealed that water hydrants have been running without laid down rules and regulations and the process of contracting out hydrants has remained opaque. The last process of tendering was done in 2003 and 2009 while functioning and operation of water hydrants including illegal sites has still been running without any fresh ‘notice inviting tenders’. Problems of arrears have also accumulated and there were no rules to address such issues. It was further observed by task force that fixation of prices remained very arbitrary and interconnected fact was even those fixed prices were not being followed properly. Report titled ‘preliminarily inquiry into affairs of water hydrants has covered number of hydrants, meters on hydrants, rules and regulations, fixation of prices, electricity charges, generation of bills, record of billing, adjustment in bills, outstanding dues to contractors, prequalification of water hydrants contractors and mode of awarding contracts to contractors etc. The issue of installing water hydrants within a radius of three kilometers also came under enquiry. While realising the preliminarily enquiry could not address every issue of this complicated affair, an enquiry committee was formed consisting of senior engineers to look into the affairs of water hydrants in detail, questioning KWSB and make recommendation. The committee in recommendation maintained laws already set forth by KWSB and lacuna in rules if any should be amended in consultation with all stakeholders. KWSB remained unreciprocated to queries of committee regarding policy for fixation commercial rates, time of formulation under implementation, mechanism fixing rates of water tankers, rules and legal framework, electricity charges recovered through billing, water hydrants metering, KWSB billing system for constructors whether it is computerised or manually generated and collection of details of billing from all hydrants during the last five years. KWSB also remained unable on matters pertaining to amount of adjustments made during last five years in all hydrants, total amount of arrears on contractors, criteria for selecting hydrant contractors, procedure to award contract and whether proper procedure had been followed in last five years. A mechanism should be devised for fixation of commercial rates of hydrants water in consultation with stakeholders and followed strictly by means and record should invariably be maintained properly. There should be criteria for selecting the contractors by invoking relevant clause of SPPRA Rule 2010 and contract should only be awarded to successful bidders after observing pre-requisite caudal formalities. Cameras should be installed with one month backup linked with central office to check and monitor the number of trips. The calibration of tanker capacity should be got done immediately and there should be a mechanism to ascertain exact quantity of water supplied, released through tankers and account thereof be maintained properly, the calibration should be done bi-annual and such certificate should be paste, available with tanker. Similarly KWSB should also paint water tankers under title of KWSB water supply tankers, in this way illegal, un-authorised water tankers will be eliminated. Water meters installed at hydrants are of very inferior quality and most of them are not working hence all meters need to be replaced by reputed brand preferably of international standard in order to get actual usage of water by hydrants, in this way revenue of KWSB will also be increased. Electric charges of hydrant should be paid by contractor directly to K-Electric or any alternate energy arrangement should be sole responsibility of contractor. The staff of KWSB responsible for management in each and every capacity should be warned to be vigilant in discharging their duties and slackness if any noticed on part of any incumbent should not be tolerated at any cost. A senior technical officer not less than superintending engineer (BPS-19) should be posted as in-charge of water hydrant. It is pertinent to mention here that KWSB stopped computerised billing without any valid and legal reasons, new consumer numbers were issued to consumers without any lawful authority, arrears were waived to the consumers without any proper justification, billing pattern has been changed in 2009 on at least with three intervals, arrears, amounting to Rs 500 million were not reflected in the then bills. Published in Daily Times, August 23rd 2017.