20000418

KWSB to hand over

K-2 project to

private party

KARACHI: Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has invited bids from private parties on April 18, to operate 2nd Karachi Water Supply Project (K-2) on contract for supplying additional 100 MGD water to the city.

The project was launched in 1987 with an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 billion and was due to complete within five years. But it took 11 years to be operative at Rs 10 billion, more than double of the estimated original cost.

The project was completed with the financial assistance of international donors contributing 75 percent of its total cost, while the rest was borne by the government

.Sources said water supply from K-2 was not being run by KWSB staff effectively and 65 to 70 MGD out of total 100 MGD was being currently supplied. The pipeline laid were not according to the standard and unable to bear 100 MGD water pressure.

KWSB tried to pump 100 MGD water through these lines but it resulted in major rupture in February 2000 near Safoora Goth (University Road) Karachi.

The KWSB management invited contracts from private parties for operating K-2 in December 1999 and January 2000, but could not do so due to technical reasons.

Sources further claimed that no budget was allocated for the maintenance and other expenses of the project.

When approached Chief Engineer Electrical and Mechanical, KWSB Mushtaq Memon said here on Monday KWSB has decided to hand over the project to private sector as it did not have enough skilled staff to run the project efficiently. KWSB plans to lay off around 1,700 technical and non-technical employees by June 2001.

The Board handed over "Greater Karachi Sewerage and Sewage Disposal Scheme Phase-II stage 1 (KDP-II) Project (Treatment plant III) in 1997" to Pak China Company on contract basis.ÑPPI