35 MGD water being traded through 73 illegal water hydrants

Though Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) authorities claim to close down 90 percent illegal hydrants in the city, official sources said that some 35 million gallons per day (MGD) water is still being traded through these officially-closed illegal hydrants. The KWSB has claimed that it had closed down 73 illegal hydrants out of 90. But sources said that the closed hydrants were being made operational in connivance with the powerful mafias with political backing.
Official sources inside KWSB told this correspondent that the closed illegal hydrants were made operational and started supplying water within couple of hours after their official closures. "The fact is that a powerful mafia operate these illegal hydrants so it is very difficult for KWSB to stop illegal trade of water," he said.
Some of the illegal water hydrants located in city include Orangi, Banaras, Magopir, Lyari Expressway, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Baldia, Nazimabad, Kemari, Mehmoodabad, Site and others. Sources in the water utility told Business Recorder that most of the illegal connections from main line had been installed in industrial area from where tanker mafia used to supply water to industries. Sources said many times these illegal hydrants had been raided and closed, but the mafia is so powerful that the authorities started playing at the hands of the mafia.
They said water utility lacks required resources to close down all illegal connections, as most of the connections are backed by a political mafia with the involvement of some KWSB officials. They said KWSB has appeared toothless in curbing illegal trade of water. Sources said that illegal trade of water has been carried out through more than hundred water hydrants through tankers mafia. They said that tankers mafia was directly involved in illegal trading of water in connivance with officers of KW&SB.