Karachi: Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) with the assistance of paramilitary Rangers demolished 17 illegal hydrants and removed 31 illegal water connections as part of its ongoing campaign against water theft in this mega city.

A KWSB statement on Monday said at least three men were taken into custody by the Rangers for resisting the eradication of the illegal hydrants.

The statement further said that the KWSB teams had demolished the hydrants at Khairabad in Jumma Goth neighbourhood along the Northern Bypass. But the water mafia again restored the hydrants taking advantage of the general lawlessness in the area.

The area is known to be the hiding place for militants and criminals that hamper the smooth working of the civic agencies in the area. In view of the looming danger, the KWSB sought the assistance of the Rangers, the statement said.

The action against the hydrants followed a Supreme Court order under which a meeting was held under the supervision of a session judge, attended by the managing director of KWSB and other senior engineers and officials.

The meeting formed two raiding teams which were assigned to demolish the illegal hudrants in many areas and towns including Landhi, Korangi, Northern Bypass, Saeedabad, Manghopir and other parts of the city.

The two teams operated separately with the heavy contingents of the Rangers. One team, which operated in the western part of the city, demolished 12 hydrants and filled the tunnels and wells with debris and other material to block the water theft.

In the eastern part of the city, the second team broke down five illegal hydrants and confiscated all the equipment at the spot.

In this largest city of Pakistan, water mafia had developed high stakes in the hydrants to sell water through mounted tankers at very high prices. The hydrants are installed on the KWSB water supply conduits.

Officials of law enforcement agencies, besides the political backing, are said to be the patrons of the water mafia.

The KWSB said the demolished hydrants had the capacity to steal some one million gallon of water daily that would transport through 800 tankers.