Four arrested as PHE cuts illegal connections to Kachhi Plain water pipeline

NASEERABAD: The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, with police support, carried out a major operation and cut dozens of water connections. The 18-inch diameter main pipeline of the Kachhi Plain Water Supply Scheme Phase II had been broken at night with an excavator for illegal farming.

Four people were arrested for installing illegal water connections, damaging the pipeline and carrying out illegal habitation and farming. Machinery, including a diesel engine machine and a dewatering motor, was seized. Letters were sent to the police to get cases registered.

Executive Engineer of the Kachhi Plain Water Supply Scheme Zakir Hussain Jamali, Junior Engineer Muhammad Ayub Bhutto, PHE staff and police took action in Dera Murad Jamali, Rabi Canal, Nautal and other areas against those who had installed illegal connections on the main pipeline. Dozens of water connections were cut and sealed. Illegal connections of three-inch, two-inch and one-inch diameter had been fitted to the main pipeline for habitation and farming. Police took the machinery used in the illegal farming into custody and moved it to a police station.

Zakir Hussain Jamali said the pipeline was broken every other day in Rabi Canal and other areas. This caused a large loss of water and affected supply to Nautal, Landhi, Bakhtiarabad, Bhag and other areas. He said the Kachhi Plain Water Supply Scheme provides water to areas of three Districts: Naseerabad, Sibi and Kachhi.

He said obstacles to the water supply would not be tolerated in any circumstances. Uninterrupted supply of water would continue, and those installing illegal water connections would not be spared. Strict legal action against those damaging the pipeline would continue. He appealed to the public to refrain from breaking the pipeline and installing illegal connections.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan