KARACHI: Taking exception to indifference of the power utilities to provide electricity connections to water supply schemes across the province, the judicial commission has asked the heads of the K-Electric, HESCO and SEPCO to appear before it to explain their position.
Headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro the commission set up by the Supreme Court to implement its recommendation with regard to provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities resumed its proceedings on Saturday.
It expressed displeasure over failure of power utilities to provide electricity connections to water schemes despite payment of requisite charges by the provincial authorities.
The Public Health Engineering Department’s deputy secretary submitted to the commission a list of water supply schemes lying non-functional due to the power utilities’ indifference to ensure power supply to run them. The amount had already been paid to them yet no connection was provided, depriving people of safe drinking water, he added.
In compliance of the apex court’s directions, MD Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, the focal person of the Sindh chief secretary, WASA MD, submitted their respective reports which were taken on record by the commission.
Dr Saeed Qureshi, the focal person, informed that Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa)’s new head would be appointed in compliance of the Supreme Court’s orders within three next working days and report would be submitted to the commission.
The commission also took notice of lifting sand from Malir river bed, saying that it was damaging the conduits of water.
The officials told the commission that irrigation officers would be deputed to carry out proper monitoring of the river and ensure that no such activity takes place.
Justice Kalhoro also sought a report from the district and sessions judge, Malir, in respect of the lifting of sand from Malir River, which he would submit within a week after visiting himself the site along with officials concerned.
Dr Fazulullah Pechooho, the health secretary, submitted a report on disposal of hospital waste. He said that he would direct the DG Health to ensure that private hospitals and laboratories implement the provisions of Sindh Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2014.
The judicial body, however, made it clear that it was responsibility of the health secretary to ensure that not only the public hospitals and laboratories but also private hospitals and laboratories strictly follow the waste management rules. The secretary health would submit shall submit a comprehensive report in this regard on August 08.
The focal persons also sought time to submit report on shifting of management and maintenance of RO plants from special initiative departments and Sindh Coal Authority to public health engineering department.
The commission directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and KMC municipal commissioner to submit a report with regard to functioning of a treatment plant, TP-II, and inform it as to whether encroachment from the land of TP-II was removed and whether alternate land was provided to affectees and they were compensated.