The water supply quota of 12 cusecs from Indus source has become short to meet Karachi's demand and the government needs to increase it on priority, this was stated by Managing Director, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Misbah Uddin Farid.
Addressing a luncheon meeting with the members and office bearers of Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) South Zone, the MD KWSB, said that 150 MGD additional water supply through K-IV is being planned and this project would cost several billions rupees.
He said that K-IV would take a few years to be completed but in the meantime water quota through Indus source should be enhanced. KWSB chief said that water supply to the Korangi Industrial Area (KIA) particularly to Sector 7-A (Tannery Zone) is being obstructed deliberately and some strong Mafia is involved in this scam. He said that he asked the Rangers Intelligence to investigate into this conspiracy and bring the responsible to task.
He said that water supply to Tannery Zone would be gradually improved and he will have a follow-up meeting with the PTA by next month. He informed that he has already changed the staff in KIA and issued a strict warning to the senior and junior officers of KWSB present on the occasion to mend their ways otherwise action would be taken against them.
He also proposed to the PTA that water supply through RO plant could also be done to the Tannery Zone though it would cost to the industry a little more. He pointed out that tanker Mafia is involved in the disruption of water supply to the KIA.
He said that encroachments along the National Highway are increasing at a fast pace while too many farm houses also sprung up due to which water theft is increasing at an alarming rate and would gradually hamper the water supply to Karachi. The PTA Chairman, Aziz Ahmed said in his welcome address that country's largest tanners cluster is without water for the last 14 years and the water level has gone down too deep due to which a drought like situation has been created in the area. Aziz further mentioned that Tannery Zone employs over 500,000 workers and about 500 tanneries are functioning in the area but due to water scarcity, many industries have reached to the verge of closure.
He warned that if the water supply from KWSB would not be resumed the billion-dollar industry would be shut down. He demanded of the KWSB chief to place this issue on top priority of agenda of KWSB's Governing Body meeting. The Vice-Chairman, PTA, Hamid Zahoor and Chairman Standing Committee on utilities, Shaikh Habibur Rehman also highlighted the water and sewerage related problems in the meeting.-PR
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