KARACHI: Massive leakage exposes obsolete water pipelines
KARACHI, Nov 5: Bulk supply of water from Hub source has exposed the obsolete water distribution network in the localities hooked to Hub dam for their water needs as most of the roads and streets in these areas are submerged in water leakage from lines.
These water lines, laid down 15 to 20 years ago, were not repaired for so many years despite the suspension of water supply from Hub dam for the last three to four years due to dead level of water in the dam.
Baldia, Orangi and some parts of SITE, hooked to Hub source, started receiving water four or five days after the release of water between 80mgd and 90mgd on first Ramazan but dilapidated water lines could not withstand with the massive supply of water resulted in the overflow of water from these lines.
A flood like situation could be witnessed in the localities, which were severely hit by water scarcity five months ago, as most of the roads are inundated in the water leakage from lines. This accumulation of water has brought immense hardships for the people particularly for pedestrians to pass through from these streets and roads. The stagnant water is also playing havoc with the recently carpeted roads, which was done a few weeks back after torrential rains devastated these roads in the monsoon season.
Situation has become worse in the areas where potholes in the broken roads have converted into ponds posing threat of fatal accidents.
Administration of these towns, when contacted, held Karachi Water and Sewerage Board responsible for leakage of water from the lines, which were not repaired for so many years.
They expressed their inability to carry out repairing work due to limited resources, when asked for repairing and put the whole responsibility on KWSB to repair these lines and prevent water losses. —PPI
