KARACHI: The construction of a combined effluent treatment plant approved in 1989 has remained put off over the last 29 years owing to multiple allotments on a 465-acre plot set aside for the purpose. A recent survey demarcation by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the Board of Revenue [on February 19, 2018] revealed that more than 300 acres of land was still under possession of multiple parties whose allotments were granted by successive governments in the province over the years. The plant, whose construction was approved at a site in Korangi Creek in Malir district, was intended to treat six million gallons of effluent produced by tanneries in the city. The Board of Revenue of Sindh had allotted 465 acres of land for the purpose. Later, the BoR offered 100 acres reclaimed sea land to KWSB but it was found unfit for the purpose of setting up an effluent treatment plant. The 465-acre plot had been allocated in Korangi Creek’s Deh limits with a view to drain out treated sewage water into the sea. The plot was on a gradient and therefore it could use the pull of gravity to pass treated sewage water into the sea. In pursuance of directions contained in a letter dated November 30, 1992, written by the Deputy Commissioner East district, physical possession of 409 of 465 acres, shown red in plan, was handed over on site to then executive engineer of the KWSB and Mukhtiarkar for the East district, Asadullah Khan. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had granted $400 million for the project, but it stopped funding after Pakistan proceeded with its nuclear tests in May 1998. After suspension of funds from the ADB, the TP-IV effluent treatment project was added t o the S-3 project. In the subsequent years, no authority took interest in the project and it remains ignored. Subsequently, when he became the chief minister in 1998-99, Liaquat Jatoi allotted a portion of the land to several MPA, besides approving allotment of 100 acres for the small industries zone, though work on the establishment of the zone could not be carried out. Later, another 100 acres of the land were allotted to the Sindh Civil Officers Cooperative Housing Society. Then Chief Minister Sindh, Arbab Rahim, during 2004-07, allotted 120 acres from the land to Abad Trust of former governor Dr Ishratul Ibad. The plot is still in possession of the trust. During the tenure of former Karachi nazim Mustafa Kamal in 2006-07, portions of land were allotted to various parties. Later, BoR allegedly allotted land to private parties including Habib Group and the Flying Club. Israr Ebad, a former MNA and brother of Dr Ishratul Ibad was also a beneficiary of 120-acres land registered in name of Ibad Trust in 2002-2017. Later, KWSB officials agreed to make payment of funds to all these lessees who had carried out development works on the land. Therefore, an amount of Rs 2.5 million was paid to poultry framers for vacation of land in first phase. Asadullah Khan, the executive engineer, Aftab Ahmad, the project director TP-IV, and Hussain Bux, the manager of the project, then took control of the land. Speaking to Daily Times, Ali Muhammad Palejo, the former DMD Technical Service of KWSB, and Gulzar Memon, the former Chief Engineer E&M of KWSB, said they had tried their best to vacate land but they stopped their efforts after receiving threats. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has recently ordered the civic authorities concerned to get the land vacated in view of a relevant Supreme Court directive. The project director TP IV, Noor Ahmad Soomro, says that the board is ready to complete all legal formalities and floating of international tenders for construction of the treatment plant if the possession of the land is handed over to it. Published in Daily Times, March 19th 2018.