KARACHI - The ongoing operation against the illegal hydrants continued as the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) disconnected the supply line of one hydrant through which at least 2 million gallons water was being stolen daily.

According to officials, a team of Water Board conducted a raid in Site Area, where water connections for hydrant were taken from 48 inch diameter bulk supply line. The team dismantled the pumping machinery, seizing the electric panel, meter valve and other related items.
The local government minister Agha Siraj Durani repeatedly informed Sindh Assembly that a mafia was running ‘water business’ through illegal hydrants, collecting millions of rupees through stealing water from the KWSB lines.
The provincial minister directed the KWSB to launch operation against the illegal water hydrants, which depriving the citizens of this facility. The KWSB has lodged case 280/12 in Site police station against the hydrant mafia. The persons nominated in the case are Liaqut Ali Khan, Umar Saleem, Sarfaraz and Saudur Rehman.
Managing Director of KWSB Misbhauddin Fareed has said that due to the illegal hydrant water supply of Site area, Baldia Town, Kemari, Maripur and other several areas were badly affected and residents of the areas were suffering. He further added that KWSB would continue the campaign against hydrant mafia.
Chief Engineer Hydrants Iftikhar Ahmed, Superintending Engineer Asif Qadri and other officers supervised the operation. A contingent of 100 policemen from Special Branch assisted them.