KARACHI: Alarming decrease in water level at Keenjhar
By Azizullah Sharif
KARACHI, May 25: The water level at the Keenjhar Lake, supplying 450 mgd water to the city from the Indus source, has dropped alarmingly and reached a critical stage.
At present, the reservoir level is 42.50 RL as against its normal level of 50 RL. If it drops further, it would reach the dead storage level, i.e. 41 RL, experts said.
They added that if the lake is not replenished soon and water level reaches the scale of 41 RL, water supply to the city would be affected badly. However, well-placed sources told Dawn that the Sindh irrigation secretary on being apprised about the situation by the KWSB MD, assured the latter of replenishing the Keenjhar Lake by releasing water through Sukkur Barrage within a fortnight.
Besides, water supply from Hub dam has also started dwindling reportedly owing to power fluctuations, causing an acute water shortage in various parts of former district West.
Sources in the water board said that the city had been getting between 72 and 79 mgd as against 91 mgd from the Hub source. Asked what would happen if water level at Keenjhar goes down further to 41 RL, sources said the government had committed to release fresh water to Keenjhar from Sukkur Barrage within next two weeks.
"In fact, the KWSB can fetch water even from the lake's dead storage capacity for at least two months which means that there will be no water crisis in the city till the monsoon," said a source.
Moreover, ice-melting on mountains has started and its impact in the Keenjhar Lake would shortly be felt when water re-filling process in the lake would begin, he added.
Expressing his optimism that there would be rains throughout the country, the source said that present water supply situation would improve considerably when catchment areas of Keenjhar Lake start receiving rains in the ensuing monsoon.
Sources said that with a view to ensure that Karachiites continue to get normal quantity of drinking water at least till the ensuing monsoon, the provincial government has been requested to stop the bulk supply for agricultural purposes from Keenjhar Lake.
Though the crops would be affected badly in the wake of stoppage of water for agricultural fields of Sindh from the lake, the provincial government as a matter of policy had decided that drinking water must be provided on priority, the sources added.
The Keenjhar Lake has two outlets - one for releasing water for agricultural fields and the other for providing potable water to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) - for its onward supply to Karachi, the sources said, adding the lake also has one bypass, from where some quantity of muddy water which is considered to be good for crops is still being supplied to agricultural fields.
About water shortage in Orangi, Baldia, Surjani, North Karachi and Shershah and SITE's residential-cum-industrial areas, sources said it was due to power fluctuations taking place at the Hub pumping station. They pointed out that the KESC had repeatedly been requested to ensure uninterrupted power supply to water installations.
CITY COUNCIL: The City Council on Tuesday expressed concern over the federal government's plan to supply 17.5mgd water to the new textile city from the water share of Karachi, saying it would further add to water crisis in the city, adds PPI.
The session was called to debate the draft budget of the City District Government Karachi and to discuss the proposals submitted by the members. But no debate was held on the budget as members discussed mostly water scarcity and tragic incidents of May 12.
Council member Najmi Alam said that the proposed plan to supply water to the textile city from the share of Karachi, would create water scarcity in the city. "We urge the government to provide water to the textile city from some other sources," he said, adding that the people would not allow anyone to usurp their rights.
Some other members also supported Najmi Alam and expressed concern over persisting water shortage in Karachi, particularly in Old City areas. Ghulam Akbar Baloch, a council member from Shanti Nagar, taking part in the debate, termed the behaviour of KWSB officials as inhuman.
"We have approached the department concerned a number of times, but no one is ready to heed to the problems of Shanti Nagar." He warned that if water problem of Shanti Nagar was not resolved, they would be compelled to besiege the City Nazim's office.
The CDGK should take some practical steps to redress the grievances of the people, particularly the dwellers of slum areas, instead of paying a lip-service. Council members from Lyari and Keamari also came heavily on the KWSB for depriving the people of these areas of their right to get water as per their needs.
Members belonging to the Al-Khidmat and the Awam Dost panels severely criticized the Sindh government for its alleged role in rigging during by elections on May 12 in Karachi.
"May 12 was the worst day in the election history of Pakistan as innocent people were subjected to killing and torture by one party just for securing few seats," Engineer Abdul Aziz said.
"The administration should be ashamed of for it as it turned a blind eye to the inhuman and deadly events of byelections. Moreover, it allowed terrorists to continue with their nefarious intentions despite deployment of heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies," they said.
