KARA CHI - The governing body of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) on Friday, approved the board's budget worth Rs 15.717 billion for the fiscal year 2008-09. The budget meeting, presided over by provincial Local Bodies Minister and KWSB Chairman Agha Siraj Durrani, was held at KWSB head office. MD KWB Suleman Chandio briefed the newsmen about the details of the KWSB Rs 15.717 billion budget for the fiscal 2008-09. On that occasion provincial minister Aga Siraj Durrani was also present. The MD KWSB termed the budget balanced. He confirmed that this month salaries of the newly recruited 6,000/ employees would be paid by the KWSB, adding the board would request the CDGK for a financial assistance worth Rs 436.736 million for payment of the salaries of new employees of KWSB. He said that federal and Sindh governments would provide Rs 2.36 billion to pay the dues of KWSB. He said that since 2001, the CDGK did not pay compensation thus KWSB has requested CDGK to pay Rs 3.89 billion. Suleman Chandio said that for operational expenditures of KWSB, an amount worth Rs 2.93 billion has been earmarked. He said that KWSB would spend Rs 1 billion on various development projects in the next fiscal. The official further said that for Annual Development Programme (ADP), Sindh government would pay Rs 2.87 billion while for various big water supply schemes of KWSB, the federal and provincial governments would also pay Rs 4.26 billion collectively. Answering to questions of the newsmen, Chandio said that that water meters would be installed at all the commercial and industrial units in the city to prevent water theft. He further said that KWSB would have to pay Rs 4.75 billion in the head of the power tariff to KESC. He was of view that 9 per cent increased in the water tariff for all consumers help KWSB to collect Rs 3 billion increase in the water tariff while another Rs 3. 5 billion would be realised through sewerage charges. He said that federal government has also confirmed Rs 1,400 million for KWSB to maintain water supply system.