KARACHI: Around 30 hydrants in Karachi are operative in garb of using subsoil water and running of reverse osmosis plants despite ban on such economic activity by the Supreme Court. Around five such hydrants operating in different parts of Karachi have been pointed out by Muhammad Nomuman Siddiqui, Senior Superintendent of Police District Korangi. According to a letter-SSP/Korangi/DIB/6471, December 8, 2017 to Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, it has been informed that one of the hydrants was involved in such unlawful activity in Korangi. Besides these activities were also being carried out at Baldia, SITE, Manghopir, on Super Highway and National Highway, it was revealed by the respective area police officials. It is believed that Water Board officials were involved in helping the private parties for running these hydrants. Korijo, Mama Aziz, Jumman and an unknown hydrant owner are involved in this illegal business. Police has reported. It is reported that Raiz and Shariq Hadi both Assistant Executive Engineers of KWSB were found involved in backing these hydrants. Police claimed that no objection certificates were signed by these officials for giving permission to run hydrants. On intervention of police, these KWSB officials claimed that they had cancelled the NOCs. Police has asked KWSB that in case of such any activity, police would provide support to civic entity for the closure of hydrants. However, KWSB has been failed so far to eliminate such illegal hydrants in parts of city despite clear cut direction of SC that no any hydrant would be functional in city. These hydrants were usually run in houses under boundary walls and it was surprising that other Water Board staff was also involved. Anti Corruption Establishment has already initiated inquiry against the incharge and other officials of hydrant section including Tabish Raza Hasnain, Shakil Qurashi, Nishair Magsi, Imran Siddiqui, Khalid Farooqui, Shaikh Adnan Ahmed, Zaheer Khan and Syed Jalal Hyder Zaidi, officials of KWSB have informed. Only six hydrants on legal grounds can function in parts of city as Water Board in an open tender had awarded water supply contract on November 1, 2017 in six districts of Karachi under the directives of SC. Hashim Raza Zaidi, Managing Director KWSB has claimed that the department has so far demolished 187 such hydrants besides 2,130 cutting illegal water connections. Published in Daily Times, December 14th 2017.