KARACHI: Powerful ‘tanker mafia’ steals up to 30 percent of Karachi’s water through illegal hydrants with covert support of the ruling elite and their corrupt bureaucracy, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), urging the Chief Justice of Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to take his first suo moto notice on this crucial public issue.
He said the megacity already has insufficient water supply against its huge population. Karachi officially needs some 1,200 MGD but actually receives 550 to 600 MGD water. Population growth continues while no major new water addition for decades. He said this insufficient water supply is further marred with theft and tanker mafia that steal up to 30 per of water is stolen through illegal hydrants, adding the tanker mafia profits from scarcity.
Altaf Shakoor said another issue is poor infrastructure, as up to 45 percent water is lost due to leakages, broken pipelines, and old infrastructure. He said pumping stations are vulnerable to power failures.
He said the promised K-IV project is hit by delays. This project was supposed to add 650 MGD, but political disputes and design flaws stalled it.
He said the government also continually ignores the matter of unregulated groundwater extraction. Many industries & colonies have their own bore wells, causing a sharp aquifer depletion.
He said moreover Karachi releases millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the sea instead of recycling it for industrial use.
He said the government must take stern action to quickly improve water supply in the megacity. It must launch a crackdown on illegal hydrants, by deploying Rangers and with an active KWSB monitoring system. It must ensure a live GPS tracking of major pipes, besides carrying out performance audits of local KWSB officers.
The KWSB must repair leakages on main trunks, Hub, Dhabeji and Pipri through rapid maintenance teams. An uninterrupted electricity to pumping stations must be ensured. There should be dedicated feeders, backup generators, and mandatory KE coordination in this regard.
The powerful tanker mafia should be tamed, he said, demanding to regulate tanker operations. Per-gallon rates should be fixed and tankers should be allowed filling from designated hydrants. He asked to introduce a digital token system for distribution.
He said the megacity needs industrial wastewater recycling plants. As industries consume huge amounts—recycling reduces pressure on domestic supply. He told that similar models work in Singapore, Israel and the UAE.
He asked to learn a lesson from the failure of the DHA Cogen desalination plant and instead focus on building multiple 5–20 MGD units along the coast that can be operated by the government or privately.
He said there is a need to reorganize KWSB under a “Karachi Water Authority”, giving it an autonomous budget, independent board, anti-corruption backing and digital billing system to cut political interference.
He asked to complete the K-IV with transparent oversight, and redesign it properly, as its current design is flawed.
He asked to build new reservoirs & rainwater harvesting structures. He said Karachi wastes monsoon water every year that could be used by recharge wells and building small dams around Malir & Gadap. Rainwater could also be stored for industrial zones.
He said to mitigate the water shortage in Karachi, the first step should be to take on the powerful tanker mafia. He requested the Chief Justice of Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Justice Aminuddin to take his first suo moto on this crucial public issue and save the Karachiites from perpetual thirst.
