KARACHI: An outsized portion of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) land meant for water installations, bulk lines, pumping and supply stations, canals, treatment plants has either been sold or encroached upon, officials of KWSB have revealed. Officials told Daily Times that the KWSB land in several areas of the city had been grabbed by encroachers with the connivance of thirteen executive engineers during the last seven years. Executive Engineers of Gharo, Hub NEK (E&M), NEK KDC-I, NEK KDC-II, Dumlottee, HTM, CTM, FTM, PP, CPS TP-I and TP-II divisions are allegedly involved in malpractices, officials of civic entity maintained. In this connection, KWSB Managing Director Khalid Mehmood Sheikh has convened a meeting of all executive engineers today (Saturday) to discuss this issue with them and determine facts on several complaints from public and officials of entity regarding involvement of some engineers in malpractices. “The land reserved for water board has been in use for residential and commercial purposes for the last 22 years but no action has been taken against officials involved in the malpractices despite a number of complaints against them,” they said. Katchi abadis (slums) have surfaced on civic body’s land in different areas, including TP-I Haroonabad, TP-II Mahmoodabad, TP-II Mauripur, Manghopir, Pipri, Gharo, Dhabeji, Hub canal, Superhighway, Gadap, Malir, Shah Faisal, Bin Qasim, Korangi, New Karachi, SITE, Pak Colony, Baldia, Orangi and Qasba Colony, while residential plots have been built on the reserved land in TP-IV (Korangi Greek), they added. “The land of COD has been allotted for residential purposes and even houses have been built on major part of land measuring 25 acres. Land on other side of National Cricket Stadium has also been allotted to private builders and parties. Moreover, KWSB’s land in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauher and land of KDA Housing Society and Scheme-33 is being misused other than their actual purpose,” they stated. It might be mentioned that the National Accountability Bureau had initiated a probe into the said matter. Recently, the anti-corruption watchdog sealed around 14 bungalows constructed on COD land. Besides, the Anti-corruption Establishment has also initiated investigation into the matter. However, a bungalow in COD, which was sealed by NAB on November 14, has been recaptured by unidentified persons. In a letter to KWSB managing director, Shoaib Tughlaq, deputy managing director HRD&A of KWBC, had complained that executive engineers of the civic entity were had been involved in malpractices since last seven years and no any action has been taken against them. According to department’s rules, if an official concerned fails to take action against alleged complaints of encroachment, they may be taken to task under legal action after the MD’s permission. He said that despite several directives issued from time to time and duly conveyed to officials concerned for necessary action, officials concerned appear to have been negligent to the issue, which was tantamount to disobedience on their part. Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2018.