Work on 650 mgd water supply plan begins: Mustafa

Nazim Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Saturday said that work on a 650 mgd water supply plan has been initiated which would fulfil the city's drinking water requirements for the next 50 years.
"Now there will be no need to carry out study after every 2 or 3 years, and water will continue to be supplied phase wise, meeting the requirements of people for next 50 years".
He stated this while speaking and later talking to journalists on the occasion of signing of a consultancy agreement between KWSB and Usmani and Company for K-4 water supply scheme and also for studying the water requirements for next 50 years.
Nazim Karachi pointed out that soon after taking over the charge of City Government, special attention was paid on this issue and within short period of 90 days were able to start work on 50 year planning.
He informed that Karachi's 90 percent water requirement will be fulfilled after completion of K-III project while remaining will be met through various other sources.
However, he said, the planning for next 50 years had become essential in view of city's growing population and work on this has started from today.
He said the consulting company had sought 15-18 month time for study, but on our desire the company has promised that work will be completed in 10-12 months, and thus the study will be finalised by December 2006 and soon after work will start on K-4 project which will be completed in 2008 to supply 100 mgd water.
He said the study will cost Rs 33 million which will be incurred by City Government. However federal government will be approached to meet the development cost of K-4 project.
Mustafa Kamal said after two years, the city government will be in a position to complete K-5 and projects thereafter, from its own resources.
He stated that City Government is working on plans to increase its revenues and hopefully it will not face problems of resources after K-5.
The Nazim told the officials of water board that the work they are doing, has direct bearing on human lives and, therefore, they should carry out their duties with sincerity.
Earlier MD Water Board Brigadier Iftekhar Hyder and representative of Usmani and Company signed the agreement. The Chief Engineer K-III project, Mashkoorul Hasnain and Project Manager Misbahul Fareed and other officials were also present on the occasion.