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It seemed that the Pale of Glow had landed on the Karachiites when it was revealed that the IV project during the financial year would get Rs 3.2 billion in the financial year compared to the requirement of Rs 40 billion. This will further delay the completion of this important water supply scheme required to eliminate the demand for supply.
The city needs more than 1,150 million gallons (MGD) daily but it only gets 550 MGD. Then there are disadvantages to pipelines and other obstacles. Amid the severe water shortage during June, a 36 -inch diameter water pipeline exploded during the Eid holidays near Karachi University. It increased the problems of residents’ water. During the summer months, the water supply drops as usual. Related agencies – including Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation – various excuses on such occasions.
It is disappointing to see that although the overall supervision of international financial institutions has a broader reform program in the water sector since 2017 and heavy loans have been borrowed, no relief has been made for ordinary consumers.
The Sindh High Court has suspended the appointments of KWSC Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The matter is under legal action. Nevertheless, water supply problems can be resolved if some reforms are kept without delay.
One, the KWSC Act 2023 should be revised again. The law must empower KWSC to make independent operational and financial decisions. This will be possible only once the corporation’s financial scope is over. At present, the government of Sindh has extended a variety of budget support, including payment of electricity bills. Without saying that financial dependence creates operational and active dependence. Once the KWSC can handle its affairs, it will be free from political tattoos.
Two, the distribution of retail water to the palaces and other places is a brown area. The KWSC staff manages a secret partnership between the bodies of some influential citizens and shopkeepers. If this system remains intact, the water supply works satisfactorily. However, once there is a deficiency or malfunction, silent consumers are blowing. Make water management committees in the Union Committee. Councilors and UC chairs should play a role in monitoring. Using digital technologies should have a strong method of remedy the complaint.
Emergency reactions in situations such as pipeline failure or other disasters should be done by a separate government of water supply using dedicated tankers. Hydrant management should be directed to work on separate time zones to dispose of tankers in their jurisdiction to deal with the emergency on a priority basis. The current digital dashboard of utility can include a portal link to facilitate such conditions.
There has been some improvement in the recovery. However, KWSC needs high level performance to become a financially self -maintaining organization. The organization must improve its popular image.
Four, squatter settlements (Kiti Abadiz) should make water supply efficient. There is a false impression that the residents of raw residents receive “free” water supply. This author and several other researchers have established that in many places, the residents of Kachi Abadi pay very low -quality informal operators in small quantities of low quality water.
The need should be analyzed with the help of selected councilors and UC chairmen for each Kachi Abdadi. Proper scheduling and tariff fixing or Kachchi constituencies should follow a method of spot supply. To ensure the third party’s diagnosis must ensure that the system is working properly. Regular slums should be brought to the bottom of regular consumers to expand the utility billing base.
Five, KWSC will have to start recovering its dues from bulk as well as retail users. Many public and private organizations have been derived for years. With the active support of the provincial government, these issues have to be resolved to advance KWSC’s financial issues. There have been some improvements in the recovery, but KWSC needs high level performance to become a financially self -maintaining organization.
Six, the organization’s image has to be improved. The KWSC needs to develop a corporate communication strategy that shares accurate information with users and the general public. Successes should be highlighted and challenges should be identified and focused. This is a complex task. This can only be started once when the right people are appointed to lead this organization.
Seven, utility must begin human resource reforms as a top priority. After suffering a serious political impact in the past, the KWSC administration will have to change its human resources through a transparent performance diagnosis. Good performance and steps should be acknowledged and it should be rewarded with appropriate privileges. Poor performance should be dealt with on merit. The professional and legally accurate strategy should be dealt with more and more than staff.
Eight, a comprehensive water distribution upgrade plan should be developed at the neighboring level and it should be practiced. Karachi can be selected for quick rehabilitation – the earliest places in the south and the west – including Lyari and Sadar. This will help ensure the proper supply of water for the current and future needs of the palaces.
Nine, non -domestic consumers’ water use profile can be carefully studied. In many industrial use, precious drinking water can be converted to recycled water. Consultation with trade and industry companies can identify such consumers and dive drink water for domestic use.
Ten, unnecessary use (read waste) should be subject to close checking. The car wash is one of them. Dry car wash and other alternatives should be promoted through concessions and implementation systems.
The author is an educational and researcher based in Karachi. He is the author of Water Supply in Karachi: Problems and possibilities published by Oxford University Press
