Early completion of Site water treatment projects demanded

03 Jul, 2005

Industrialists of Site industrial area have urged the government for early completion of 'Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Hawkes Bay', 'Domestic Effluent Treatment Plant (Gutter Baghicha)', and existing sub-soil water scheme upgradation.
Talking with this correspondent about untreated water and water shortage in Site industrial area, they said that Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has not done much in this regard and industrialists are still getting 5.6 MGD water, against their requirement of 30 MGD, which is a meagre supply to the industries and industrialist cannot sustain their production and meet the commitment of foreign buyers.
They said that they were purchasing water through tanker mafia at exorbitant rates.
They noted that the existing sub-soil water upgradation scheme with a cost of Rs 2 million is pending with City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
Domestic Effluent Treatment Plant at Gutter Baghicha is a joint venture project of city government, Site Ltd and Site Association of Industries (SAI) costing around Rs 18 million on BOT basis.
Agreement has already been signed with an Austrian firm V A Tech. This project will retreat domestic, industrial effluent of 25 MGD and supply 8.15 MGD retreated water of 400 TDS phase-wise for industrial use.
Agreement between City Government, KWSB and V A Tech was signed in April 2005 and now the ball in the court of City Government.
The industrialists fear that the project may be further delayed due to the absence of City Nazim because of announcement of elections of local bodies, as the administrators may not have power to initiate the projects.
Common Effluent Treatment Plant at Hawkes Bay at a cost of 42.8 million dollars, under the loan facility being provided by Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to be completed in 3-4 years. The Federal Government has already approved the project. This project will retreat 65-MGD domestic and industrial effluent and supply retreated water of 400 TDS for industrial use.

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