Sindh Approves New Law to Regulate Underground Water Extraction
— May 25, 2024
KARACHI (AIA) The provincial government has officially approved a new draft law under the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) aimed at controlling underground water extraction and preventing water theft. A gazette notification has been issued to formalise the new regulation.
Under the new law, two-year licenses will be issued for extracting underground water in industrial areas. These licenses will include the installation of metres on the boreholes, and previous licenses have been cancelled. Each license will permit up to four boreholes, with additional boreholes requiring separate licenses.
It will be mandatory for industries to obtain licenses from the KW&SC in order to use underground water. The water usage across the city has been categorised into five types: industrial, groundwater operator, commercial, healthcare and educational institutes, and residential complexes.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KW&SC, Engineer Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, has formed a five-member committee responsible for issuing these licenses. According to the Subsoil Water Regulation Act 2018, any entity found guilty of water theft or illegal sales will have their licenses revoked. Boreholes or tube-wells cannot be placed within 330 feet of KW&SC conduits, bulk lines, reservoirs, or pumping stations and must not exceed a diameter of 24 inches. Violators will face strict legal action, including immediate license cancellation and fines up to Rs 5 million.
Syed Salahuddin Ahmed emphasised that the new law targets individuals stealing water from KW&SC lines, aiming to protect public resources and increase KW&SC revenue. He added that the implementation of this law would significantly increase the KW&SC income and stop water theft.
Ahmed concluded that the KW&SC administration is committed to implementing strong measures to ensure a fair distribution of water.