KARACHI, July 15: Various parts of the city on Tuesday remained in the grip of water crisis in the current hot and sultry weather.
The hard-hit localities include Malir, Khokhrapar, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, Al-Hamra Housing Society, Bungalore Town, Lyari’s Shah Beg Lane, D. D. Chaudhry Road, Gulshan-i- Iqbal’s Block 2, parts of PECHS Block 2, Clifton’s blocks 4 and 5, several villages of Old Golimar, different sectors of North Karachi, Sher Shah, Orangi and Baldia.
Residents of Khokhrapar’s D and D-I areas on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration in front of the UC-4 offices of the Malir Town over persisting water shortage.
According to a press release issued by the Malir Town, the protesters also threatened to put the locality’s pump-house on fire, if their supply was not restored immediately, and the UC Nazim said in case such an extreme step was taken by the area people, the W&S department would be held responsible.
Residents of the affected localities asked where the additional supply of 10 mgd, which the city has received from the Indus source, had gone.
They alleged that the area water and sewerage department officials were creating an artificial water crisis. They demanded of the city Nazim and the W&S department’s EDO to transfer all those officials who have remained in a zone or a locality for more than five years.
They said if both the Nazim and the EDO strictly adhere to the policy of transferring officials, particularly of water distribution system, after every three years, the number of water shortage complaints would subside to a greater extent.
A resident of Malir said the water shortage problem in his locality had assumed an alarming proportions and even the Jamia Millia hydrant was unable to fulfil the requests for paid water tankers.
“Although we had requested the officials to provide us water through paid tanker, they asked us to wait for five days to get the supply,” a perturbed resident of Malir complained.
Meanwhile, people residing in Lyari, especially on D D Chaudhry Road, near Lea Market Telephone Exchange, deplored that although the water problem had been lingering for more than six months, the officials concerned of the water and sanitation department have, so far, failed to resolve the issue despite complaints.
Similarly, residents of Ambreen apartment, situated in Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Block 2, complained that they are without water for the last fortnight.
“Whenever we bring the issue to the notice of the W&S department officials, they always assure us that the supply will be restored the next day, but unfortunately they have not yet been able to honour their commitments,” remarked a jittery resident of the apartment building.
According to residents of Old Golimar, a number of villages including Saleh Mohammad, Mauladad, Hassan Aulia and Pariaya, are deprived of water for the last one week.
TRUNK SEWER SINKS: A 54-inch dia Trunk Sewer Main sank in Mehmoodabad, causing overflows and stinking creating a filthy environment in Mehmoodabad and in the Karachi Administration Society and parts of PECHS Block 6.
With the sinking of the trunk main sewer, filthy water gushing out from a large number of choked gutters, has flooded as many as 20 streets of Mehmoodabad, KAHS and PECHS’s Block 6.
Jamshed Town’s acting Naib Nazim Ashfaq Ahmed Mujahid, on Tuesday, visited Mehmoodabad and other adjoining areas.
Residents of the affected localities lodged complaints with the Nazim, who asked the TMO, to help replace the sunken main trunk sewer.
KARACHI, July 15: Various parts of the city on Tuesday remained in the grip of water crisis in the current hot and sultry weather.
