He took the decision while presiding over a meeting of Karachi Water Board on Wednesday to explore ways and means to improve capacity of the existing system of K-I, II and III under which the city received water. The meeting was attended by Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Chairperson P&D Nahid Shah, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, MD water Board Asadullah Khan and Chief Engineer.
Briefing the Chief Minister, MD water Board Asadullah and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah said that the current water demand of the city was 1200 MGD against which total water supply was around 406 MGD. To this, the Chief Minister said that the situation necessitates to plan, design and implement the water supply projects on war footings.
MD Water Board said that different systems of bulk water supply provide 406 MGD to the city. They include K-I, 280 MGD, K-II, 100 MGD, K-III, 100 MGD, Hub source, 100 MGD. This comes 580 MGD against which total losses have been calculated at 30 percent, means 174 MGD.
To a question, the MD said that water allocation for Karachi was 650 MGD. Then the Chief Minister asked him about the designed capacity of Kinjhar-Gujjo (KG) Canal, he said it was 650. At this chief minister said that when the system has allocation and capacity of 650 MGD why the water board was not improving its system. He said that if the system was improved the water board would be able bring 200 MGD in the system and if the losses of 174 MGD were reduced by 10 percent it would further save 58 MGD. The chief minister directed water board to construct a canal from Gujjo to Pipri with a capacity of 250 MGD water from where it would be pumped in the system already functional in the city.
Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah said that the project would cost around Rs11 billion. Contracts for some of its portion were given for constructing 135 MGD capacity canal. Murad Shah said it would be of 250 MGD canal. "I would arrange funds but this city needs water and other projects are getting late," he said.
Local Government Minister told the meeting that Pakistan Steel Mill was withdrawing 28 MGD, Port Qasim 7 MGD. At this the chief minister said that Pakistan Steel Mills was not functioning, therefore their requirement must be reassessed. "We are giving four MGD to DHA which is much bigger than the area of Steel Town/Gulshan-e-Hadeed population, therefore steel mill requirement must be assessed once again," he said.
To another question, the MD Water Board told the chief minister that 50 percent losses have been recorded from 100 MGD supply from Hub. The chief minister said that these losses must be reduced to five to eight percent.