KARACHI, May 4: Over two dozen huge housing complexes of Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s Block 19 have been without water for a fortnight because of the unannounced closure of their locality’s supply line.

The housing complexes which have not received a single drop of water during the last two weeks include Gulshan Bangalows, Rahat Arcade, Welcome Terrace, Munir Fountain, Munir Arcade, Supreme Castle, Shumail Garden, Park Avenue, Al-Rauf Park, Owais Homes, Ahramish Homes and Crystal Homes.

Almost similar complaints have also been received from the residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s Gulshan Bangalows, Sweet Homes and the adjacent employees cooperative housing society.

Residents of the affected housing projects said that a 12- inch dia pipeline had been laid in 1992-93 near Rashid Minhas Road for providing water to their locality, it was chocked only after six months.

The supply through the pipeline was, however, restored in mid-2001 after removing stones and polyethylene bags which were found in abundance, the residents said, adding that the supply through the pipeline had once again stopped more than two weeks back.

They further complained that when they informed the concerned officials of the KWSB about the stoppage of the supply, they (officials) told them that their supply would improve when the level in the Hub dam would increase.

The residents of the affected areas said they were unable to understand what the link was between their locality and the water supply position of the Hub dam as their locality was hooked to the Indus source and not the Hub dam reservoir.

They demanded of the City Nazim and the KWSB managing director to help restore the supply without any further delay as they could not afford to buy private water tankers at exorbitant rates after every two or three days.

Complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from the residents of North Karachi’s sectors 11-C-1 (Sir Syed Town), 5-A/3; North Nazimabad’s Pahar Ganj Area, Hussain D’ Silva Town, Allama Iqbal Town and all the blocks situated along the Ship-owners College and Al-Hamra Society.