City needs 800mgd as per new census: CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that water shortage in the city is not acute as is being propagated but the actual problem is 70 to 80 years old distribution network.

He stated this while presiding over a high-powered follow up meeting of provision of safe drinking water in the province at chief minister house, said a statement issued here on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Manzoor Wassan, Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Jam Khan Shoro, Fayaz Butt, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Advocate General Zamir Ghumro, P&D Chairman Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, World Bank representatives, secretaries of health, industries, PHEE, energy, chief engineers of different departments, divisional commissioners, and others.

The chief minister said that water shortage in the city is not acute as being propagated by water board. The bureaucracy of water board and the local government has been misguiding the politicians from last many years.

"I am a professional engineer you cannot misguide me, he told the water board and said that the actual problem is inefficient distribution system which the water board has been concealing under the wrap of water shortage." Sindh Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro said that there is 1200km long water supply network in the city. Its replacement would cost around Rs200 billion.

The Chief Minister said that according to new census, the population of the city is 16 million. As per water board standard the water requirement is 50g per person per day (50g/capita/day). If 16 million population is multiplied with 50g/capita/day the water requirement of the city would come to 800mgd. He went on saying at present Karachi receives 650mgd including 550mgd from Keenjhar and 100mgd from Hub.

By the end of 2018 K-IV would be providing 260mgd plus 65mgd from another small scheme. It would be 325mgd. If the present available 650mgd and 325mgd of K-IV and another small scheme are combined together the available water in the city would be 975mgd against the requirement of 800mgd. This water would be enough for another three to four years, he said.

Taking up the water distribution system in the city, the chief minister said that it is 80 to 100 years old network. It has completed its logical age and now not only the old lines are contaminating the water but wasting it through seepage. He directed the local government minister to prepare a plan to replace the old distribution system.

The Minister Local Government said that HESCO has demanded from water board to pay Rs6 billion for supply of 50 MW electricity to the pumping stations of K-IV project at Keenjhar Lake.

On this, the chief minister Murad Ali Shah intervened and said when water board is going to pay Rs6 billion for 50 MW power and transmission line why it is not going to install its own LNG-based or wind power plant of 50 MW.

The funds are available for K-IV. The chief minister gave the task to secretary energy Agha Wasif to work out the plan sit together with local government minister and MD water and start survey for the 50 MW power plant.

The chief minister said that he would hold third meeting on December 28 to review the progress.