KARACHI, April 21: Acute water shortage persisted in several parts of the city on Wednesday, adding to the miseries of the residents in the affected localities especially in the current hot and dry weather.
The hard-hit areas include Baghdadi's Fida Hussain Sheikha Road, Sarafa Bazaar's Taj Mohammad Street; Kharadar, Ranchore Lines, Gulshan-i-Iqbal's Block 2, parts of PIB Colony, Jehangir quarters, Jamshed quarters, Mehmoodabad, Shershah and different sectors of Orangi, Baldia and Surjani Town.
Taking undue advantage of the persisting shortage, private tankers, as usual, did a roaring business charging between Rs 400 and 500 per tanker from the residents of water-starved localities.
Speeding tankers plying to and from hydrants in these localities were seen causing wet and slippery conditions on different main roads owing to their leaking nozzles.
Although a number of main thoroughfares have already been ruined while others are in the process of being worn-out owing to frequent movement of tankers, the authorities concerned have not yet succeeded in shifting those hydrants from where they draw water despite their repeated assurances in this regard.
People residing in building No LY-17, situated on Baghdadi's Fida Hussain Sheikha Road, complained that although they have been without water for the last four days, the KWSB officials concerned have not yet taken measures to restore the supply, causing hardships to them in the current sizzling weather.
A similar complaint has been received from those residing on Sarafa Bazaar's Taj Mohammad and Kamil streets, near Shaafi Masjid. Affected residents complained that in the absence of piped water they had no other choice but to either purchase private tankers at exorbitant rates or drink sub-soil unhygienic water at the risk of their health.
Concerned residents of the water deprived localities regretted that although they have been facing acute water shortage since the advent of summer, the KWSB had neither resolved the lingering issue nor has it made public, the telephone numbers of its complaint centres where they could lodge their complaints.
"Isn't it unfair that the KWSB, on the one hand, has not set up complaint centres and, on the other, officials concerned do not promptly attend to those complaints which are registered with the area executive engineer by our union council's nazim or area councillor on our behalf," remarked an elderly person of Orangi Town.
SEWAGE OVERFLOW: Filthy water overflowing from a damaged sewerage line has inundated a major portion of the main University Road, near Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, causing inconvenience to motorists and creating an unhygienic environment in the locality.
The worst sufferers owing to overflowing sewage are the students of Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, Government Girls Degree College and those residing in Gulistan-i-Jauhar's Block 4.
