KARACHI, Nov 26: Faced with an acute water shortage, angry crowd in Chakiwara and its adjoining areas came out on the main road of the area Monday morning.
They blocked the Chakiwara Road, Haat Chowk and Mewa Shah Road and torched old tyres suspending vehicular traffic for a long time.
The protesters raised slogans against the local bodies’ representatives and the officials of KWSB for their failure to solve the water shortage problem.
In view of mounting pressure of public outcry regarding water shortage in parts of Lyari town, the elected members of the local bodies have repeatedly warned the authorities of serious consequences if immediate steps were not taken to solve the problem.
They made it clear that “it is becoming hard to stop the desperate people of the area from coming on the roads.”
The Naib Nazim of the town said despite repeated assurances no practical measures have been taken to resolve the problem.
For the past few months water supply position in some parts of Lyari has been aggravating. The affected areas include parts of Kalakot, Nawalane, Juman Shah Plot, Chawkiwara, Singoo Lane, Rangiwara, Gul Mohammad Lane, Old and New Kalri, Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road, Juma Baloch Road, Pool Patti Lane, Ali Mohammad Mohalla and Shah Beg Lane.
A survey shows that there are localities in Lyari with water connections that have received no water for many years. These are Ali Mohammad Mohalla, parts of new Kalri and old Kalri.
When they receive water, it is often visibly polluted, having mixed with sewage from defective and leaking drainage lines, making it unfit for cooking and drinking.
Since Lyari lies at the tail-end of the city’s water distribution system, it also suffers from any diversion of water from the system by rich and powerful neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, the city Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, has ordered the KWSB chief engineer to ensure supply of water to those areas of Lyari which have been facing acute water shortage for a long time and register FIR against those employees found involved in tampering of valve operation, adds PPI
Talking to a delegation of women, who visited the Nazim’s office to apprise him of water scarcity in their areas, including Gul Mohammad Lane, Rangi Wara, Photo Lane and Tughlaq Lane, Naimatullah Khan assured them of prompt measures to mitigate their problems.
The Nazim also summoned chief engineer of the KWSB and sought details about the aggravating issue which has been a major source of nuisance for a large segment of Lyari population.
The Nazim also sought cooperation of Brig Osmani of Rangers force with the water board staff regarding valve operation.
He also communicated with Lyari town Nazim Abdul Khaliq Jumma and urged him to extend help to the staff of water board for smooth functioning of their duties as they were facing hindrances in execution of their assignment to mollify the problems of the masses.
Earlier, the women’s delegation informed the Nazim that due to the alleged valve tampering by some employees of the Board in their areas, uneven distribution of water had created problem for them as finding no other choice they were compelled to utilize underground water.
