KARACHI, Aug 3: The Lyari Town continues to face acute water shortage despite assu ances given by the concerned authorities that additional water will be supplied to the town soon.

Work on an ongoing water supply line, meant for Ali Mohammad Mohalla, which was to be laid from a pumping station near the Aga Khan Hospital, Shah Latif Bhittai Road, has been abruptly stopped.

A social worker from Rangiwara complained that there had been no improvement in the water supply position in the locality as work on the supply line had been suspended.

A CBO activist from Kalri area said the promise to restore water supply to the locality was yet to be fulfilled and people still depended on tanker water to meet their needs.

“The situation is aggravating day by day,” he said, fearing that it may cause riots at any time.

The water scarcity problem has assumed a form of public outcry. In the last few months, Lyari has witnessed several agitations, spearheaded by NGOs and local political groups.

The crisis also forced the Nazimeen and councillors of the town to lock their offices in protest against the water scarcity. They ended their protest after an assurance by City Nazim and the KWSB managing-director that additional 2mgd water would be supplied to the town.

Officially, the KWSB claims that it provides 13mgd water supply to the town, but residents and NGOs representatives contradict the claim, saying that hardly the Town gets a 8mgd water supply.

Though in some localities, including Ali Mohammad Mohalla, Kalri, Shah Beg Lane, Darayabad, Nawabad and parts of Baghdadi, the problem has become perennial, but complaints of periodic water shortage continues to pour in from other localities, such as Rangiwara, Rexer Lane, Kalakot and some parts of Kalakot and Haat Chowk.

TURBID WATER: Complaints of turbid water causing intestinal diseases have been received from some parts of the Town.