KARACHI: An Anti-Theft Cell, set up by an interim order of the Local Government Ministry, in the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) has started working on the behest of PPP lawmakers.
A campaign has been launched against KWSB’s official hydrant in Future Colony, Landhi Town, at the request of PPP leader and NA-238 MNA Agha Rafiullah, PS-89 Malir MPA Saleem Baloch. After failing in court proceedings, a case has been registered once again using anti-theft cell for forgery.
According to FIR No. 131/2022 registered on March 23 in Sharafi Goth police station of the district, on the orders of KWSB Anti-Theft Cell in-charge Abdul Wahid Sheikh, Sub-Engineer Muhammad Irshad Ali filed 12 inches diameter instead of 6 inches connections and motors of 70-100 HP instead of 30-40 HP at the Future Colony Hydrant.
In the case, the KWSB has been asked to take action against the hydrant owners. However, it has been revealed that KWBS officials have been receiving monthly illegals payments from the hydrant owners as official contractors.
The hydrants auctioned by the KWSB in 2017 mentions the installation of high quality motors of international standard but does not provide any SOPs for motor horsepower. Consequently besides the Future Colony Hydrant, Bilal’s Hydrant, Ghulam Nabi’s Hydrant, Ahmed Ali’s Hydrant, and Awan’s Hydrant has more than 70 to 100 HP motors and water connections.
These connections were set up by KWSB’s officials after receiving hefty markets. Naimatullah Mehar, in-charge of Hydrant Cell, also receives underhand payments by manipulating commercial and general public service tankers.
The owners of Future Colony Hydrant wrote to the Water Board and said demanded that all hydrants be inspected under court’s supervision and motors and connections be inspected to ascertain how much water comes to the hydrants. In addition, 45 to 55 percent consumption of general tankers should also be checked so that the fraud of billions of rupees can be exposed.
According to Clause No. 10.1 mentioned on hydrant tender documents, the duration of operation of hydrant will be 18 hours in negotiation with Hydrant in-charge to avoid any shortage. However, some hydrant owners are operating 24 hours due to which Naimatullah Mehar has been receiving hefty payments.
According to the document signed by Nematullah Mehar on March 21, 2021 issued to NAB, one 50×1 HP and 40×1 HP motors were installed on Sakhora Hydrant and three 80×1 HP motor crushing plant at Safoora hydrant. There are three motors of 40×1 and 50×1 HP in addition to 20×1 on the hydrant and 60 × 2-HP motors on Sherpao hydrant. The hydrant contractor was responsible for installing high quality motor pumps.
Sources said that a report will be submitted to the court by the owners of Future Colony Hydrants in which the details of freehand given to illegal hydrants given by Anti-Theft Cell at various places in the city will be revealed. The sources mentioned that Anti-Theft Cell is now taking revenge on Future Colony Hydrant at the behest of PPP lawmakers for personal resentment and enmity.
It should be noted that Additional Civil Judge Malir has ordered to open the Future Colony Hydrant over misrepresentation by PPP MNA Agha Rafiullah, MPA Saleem Baloch, Fayyaz Pahanwar, Hassan Baloch, Iqbaluddin and others but SSP Irfan Bahadur refused to comply with the order.
Despite the knowledge of SHO Sharafi Goth Adeel Shah and SS Irfan Bahadur, miscreants stormed and vandalized the hydrant and stopped it.. Police failed to take action after a case was registered at the request of contractor Hafeez-ur-Rehman
