Daily Times

KARACHI: More than 200 illegal hydrants in Karachi are minting money under the very nose of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and city administration.

A board meeting of KWSB with Minister Local Government Department (LGD) Sindh in chair has been informed that these 200 illegal including 42 sub soil water hydrants have been involved in the water business for long without any checks.

Mayor Karachi, Secretaries Industry, Finance and LG besides representatives of Karachi Port Trust, Karachi Electric, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan Railway and chairmen of six District Municipal Corporations also attended the board meeting.

It was informed in the meeting that the sub-soil water hydrants are also drawing water from main KWSB’s fresh water
conduits.

Most of the business is being done in SITE area, as the industrial units are always in need of plenty of water.

It was suggested that legal action against these hydrants should be taken and asked sub soil water hydrants to apply KWSB for legal business.

The Chairman, KWSB while elaborating the issue of hydrants in Karachi stated that previously there were 23 KWSB’s approved hydrants and now there are only seven.

The vice chairman, DMC Central, Karachi was of the view that this illegal business of water was being run by a strong and influential group totally involved in the matter.

The Board resolved that industrialists and the illegal water contractors might be called for a meeting for their point of view regarding obtaining sub-soil water contract.

During the meeting KWSB claimed that this entity had dismantled around 300 illegal water hydrants in city during the last one-and-half years.

The Seven legal water hydrants working are located in District Malir Landhi Town, District East Shafora Goth, Nipa Chowrangi, District Korangi Shah Faisal Colony, District Central Shakhi Hasan and in District West Milching Plant Manghopir.