PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT

LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR

MONDAY, THE 16^TH SEPTEMBER 2024

                Deferred on 10.09.2024

35        *Mr. Ali Khurshidi:

Will the Minister for Local Governmentbe pleased to State:-

Number of drainage schemes approved for district central, Karachi during 2020 to 2023 along with number of same completed and amount spent?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that following drainage schemes have been approved and completed during 2020 to 2023 in District Central, details are as under:

It is further submitted that four drainage Schemes have been executed / completed during 2020 to 2023 by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation,  details are as under :-

58        *Mr. Mazahir Amir:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

1. Is it a fact that air pollution, lack of waste management infrastructure and degradation of water bodies are major environmental problems of Karachi;

(b)  If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, measures taken by the department to overcome these problems?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that air pollution, dumping of solid waste and discharge of limited treated sewage in the sea (via Malir and Lyari River) are some of the important environmental problems of Karachi, KW&SC is responsible for collection, treatment and disposal of sewage, in accordance with Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (SEQS).

It is further submitted that the sewage is collected through a network of sewers with various sizes ranges from eight inches (8”) to seventy two inches (72”). The trunk sewers take the water to the interceptors where the sewage goes to the Treatment Plants. 

It is mentioned here that the Greater Karachi Sewerage Project is executed by KW&SC to address the environmental issues and pollution of Malir and Lyari River including the respective creeks of the sea. At present, 54 MGD of wastewater is being treated at Treatment Plant-III @ Mauripur. Under the above Project, the KW&SC will treat the 135 MGD wastewater in the next three years.

63        *Mr. Mazahir Amir:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

1. Is it a fact that most of Karachi’s residential areas are connected through pipes managed by  the Karachi water and sewerage corporation (KWSC) which connections only provide water once or twice a month;
2. If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, steps taken by the department to ensure the supply of water to the resident of Karachi and change the damaged/old pipelines infrastructure?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is agreed that water pipe network in municipal areas other than Cantonments and Federal Land-Owning Agencies, managed by KW&SC. However, KW&SC provides water to all agencies including cantonments in the entire Karachi Division including adjoining villages.

Karachi receives 630 Million Gallons Daily (MGD) of water against the consolidated demand (domestic and industrial) of 1200 MGD calculated at 40 Gallon Per Capita per Day. Due to this shortfall, the water supply to the residents is made by a schedule and mostly areas get water once in a week. However, there are some tail-end areas where the water is provided in every third week. The schedule gets effected during the repair and maintenance or power outages from K-Electric.

KW&SC plans to rehabilitate Hub Canal to bring additional 30 MGD of water for the Districts of West, Central and Keamari. Under Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project, Water Trunk Mains are being repaired and replaced in phase-wise manner.

KW&SC is committed to supply water to the residents of Karachi and repairing its infrastructure through regular maintenance work.

64        *Mr. Mazahir Amir:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

1. Whether is it a fact that water supply provided by Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) is approximately 665(MGD) against a demand of 820 to 1200 MGD;
2. If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, measures taken by the department to overcome these challenges?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that the total demand of water is 1200 MGD and the KW&SC is being supplied 630 MGD of water through bulk source i.e. Indus Source / Keenjhar 520 MGD + 40 MGD and Dhabeji Pumping Station with flow rate, besides withdrawn of 70 MGD from Hub Dam which is insufficient to cater the demand of water for the populace of Karachi.

The KW&SC manages the water supply to Karachi by adopting rationing system with the available water. 

It is further submitted that KW&SC is also strengthening its infrastructure under Karachi Water & Sewerage Services Improvement Project to repair the leakages and replacement of old water trunk mains to save the available water.

In addition to this, Hub Canal Rehabilitation shall bring 30 MGD of water into the water supply system of Karachi. Further, after completion of K-IV 260 MGD Project, sufficient water will be provided to the populace of Karachi. 

86        *Ms. Quratul Ain Khan:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

What steps being taken by the Government of Sindh to resolve the long lasting water issues in Karachi city?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation undertake the new schemes to resolve the water supplies issues in Karachi city namely.

1. Rehabilitation of Hub Canal.
2. Additional 65-MGD Water Supply Scheme.
3. K-IV Project i/c all phases.
4. Strengthening of existing infrastructure under KWSSIP Project.

96        *Ms. Quratul Ain Khan:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

Number of buildings have been declared unsafe in Karachi City during 01-01-2020 to 01-01-2023,as well as steps have been taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that one hundred & thirty seven (137) number of buildings are declared dangerous / unsafe during the year 1^st June, 2020 to 1^st June, 2023 in Karachi City by the Sindh Building Control Authority, Karachi.

It is further submitted that the process of evacuation is required to demolish these buildings, therefore Sindh Building Control Authority, is taking every possible measure to get these buildings evacuated in coordination with Utility and Law-enforcement agencies as well as District Administration.

It is further submitted that district wise, details of dangerous / unsafe buildings are as under:

167      *Mr. Abdul Basit:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

Any Ongoing illegally construction in Karachi alonwith Government intention to take action against the same? 

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that various complaints are being received by the Sindh Building Control Authority against the illegal construction in Karachi and illegal constructions are being demolished by the Sindh Building Control Authority on regular basis.

It is further submitted that the Honorable Member Provincial Assembly may identify the plot / address, so that necessary action may be taken by the Sindh Building Control Authority

231      *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

(a)   Whether it is a fact that thousands of illegal water connections were installed in Karachi during 2018-2023,

(b)   If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, area-wise number of such connections alongwith action taken against responsible to prevent the same in future including policy/mechanism for installation of water connections?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that KW&SC does not maintain the data of illegal connections however it is a continuous exercise to detect illegal connections in all areas. 

It is further submitted that Anti-Water Theft Cell, KW&SC is working with mandate of eliminating illegal water connections/water hydrants and theft mafia in order to save illegal syphoning from trunk main lines facilitating the daily needs of general Public of water.   

      In the above context, from September- 2023 till date, during the grand operation against illegal water hydrants/connections/water theft, KW&SC have disconnected 100 illegal water connections from the city and subsequently registered FIRs against the culprits with the following activities :-

1. 620 illegal water connections of illegal water hydrants were disconnected and their facilities have been completely demolished.
2. 90 Nos. of water connection taken illegally by different housing societies (were disconnected).
3. 135 Nos. of commercial connections (were disconnected).
4. 56 Nos. of connections taken by Cattle Farms (were disconnected).
5. 140 Nos. of industrial connections taken in the garb of sub soil water (were disconnected).

      The exact number of illegal connections cannot be ascertained at this stage.

However, with the installation of bulk flow meters, the section where illegal connections are reportedly installed shall be detected accordingly.

Moreover, since the enactment of KW&SC Act- 2023, Water and Sewerage Tribunal will be established soon in order to impose penalties, fines and punishments strengthening legal framework and consequences for offenders.

276      *Ms. Quratul Ain Khan:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

Whether it is a fact that from Sohrab Goath to New sabzi Mandi Karachi there is a lot of encroachment which are main hurdle in flow of traffic and a serious problem for pedestrians, if so, action taken against encroachers?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that on the directives of the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, Encroachment Drives within the jurisdiction of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation are being continued as per Schedule.

It is further submitted that removal of encroachments from Sohrab Goth to New Sabzi Mandi, the land control with the National Highway and Board of Revenue, hence, the KMC provide assistance as and required by the above authorities.

368      *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

1. Is it a fact that drainage water of Larkana city is mixing into Rice Canal;
2. If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, steps taken to stop it?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that no drainage water is being disposed off in the Rice Canal after decision of Justice (R) Ameer Muslim Hani, Chairman Water Commission, Sindh.

It is further submitted that the drainage water of Larkana City is disposed off through treatment plants.

371      *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal:

Will the Minister for Local Government be pleased to State:-

1. Is it a fact that it is necessary to  obtain NOC and  approval of water & sewerage connection before construction of  multi-storied building in Karachi;
2. If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SAEED GHANI, MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:-

It is submitted that a legal requirement for any builder to obtain NOC from KW&SC under Section 28(4)(5) of Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation Act- 2023, is at Annexure placed on the Table of the House.

It is further submitted that all High-Rise / Multi-storey buildings are being constructed on the basis of proposed / approved plan issued by the Sindh Building Control Authority and after scrutiny and feasibility, the KW&SC issues N.O.C / Sanction Certificate for water and sewerage connection.

It is further submitted that on the basis of the approved plan forwarded by Sindh Building Control Authority the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation issued 1,106 N.O.Cs / Sanction Certificates since 2019 till to date.