Need to retrieve encroached K-IV land stressed

[Salman]

KARACHI, Nov 14: Land availability is now one of the major hindrances in the additional water supply of 260 million gallons a day (MGD) to Karachi from the River Indus.

According to Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Misbahuddin Farid, they are currently facing challenges in beginning work on the K-IV project for additional water supply because of land mafia which has grabbed 868 acres specially reserved for the plan at Deh Halkani.

“The land is near the Hub pumping station,” said the MD who has reportedly also sent several letters requesting the higher authorities to do something about the problem.

“The K-IV project is vital for the city’s growing water needs and immediate action must be taken to release the land,” said Mr Farid. He said he had sent the same request to the interior secretary, a senior member of Central Board of Revenue (CBR), Karachi DIG and commissioner while its copy to the chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Sindh governor and chief minister. “But any action on the matter is yet to be taken,” he added.

Mr Farid said the KWSB would be establishing a reservoir and filter plant on the land under the project. However, the project schedule could be vitally damaged because of the land mafia, causing trouble for the citizens of Karachi and KWSB.

The K-IV scheme is the biggest water supply project for Karachi so far because all the previously-completed projects of the KWSB had not the capacity of more than 100 MGD.