The Supreme Court directed the provincial authorities on Friday to constitute two committees which would examine and address the issue involving operation of illegal hydrants in different areas of the city, particularly Malir and West districts, where these hydrants have created acute water shortage.
An apex court bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Amir Hani Muslim instructed the authorities to constitute two committees under supervision of the judicial officers of respective Malir and West districts and include officials of the police, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board and government functionaries in the same.
The court required the authorities to submit a compliance report on its order. The bench had taken up an application that sought court directions for the authorities concerned to take action against illegal hydrants.
On Friday, KWSB Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi and IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali showed up before the bench.
Zaidi told the judges that influential mafia elements were operating the hydrants in Site, Mangopir, Mochko and other areas. He added the officials of KWSB had several times dismantled the hydrants in these areas but they were rapidly installed again. Water hydrants were mainly operating in the areas of Malir and West district where they have severely affected the regular water supply to the residents.
The IG told the judges that police support was being provided to the water board officers to help it carry out crackdown on the mafia involved in hydrants.
PTI leader Abdul Hafeez appeared before the court stating that Organi Town was worst affected area in terms of water shortage because of the hydrants. Tanker mafia elements in cahoots with the industrialists had built their own set up parallel to that of water entity in Site area. He added whenever the action was taken against the mafia, the industrialist took to the roads and protested against crackdown on tanker mafia.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had taken notice of the application regarding hydrants received by the Supreme Court’s Human Rights Cell. The applications had stated that influential mafias were operating illegal hydrants openly in the city by stealing water from Karachi Water & Sewerage Board’s pipelines in different areas.
It was further stated that not only the increase of illegal Hydrants had inevitably damaged the water board’s main water supply system but these illegal water connections are polluting the clean water and are creating health hazards and environmental problems. Due to the operation of illegal hydrants, the residents are facing acute water shortage.
