31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, July 30: The overall water supply position in the city was badly affected on Friday in the wake of a shortfall of 70 million gallons on Thursday, caused by bursting of the main waterline supplying water from Dhabeji.

Various parts of the city, particularly those belonging to former districts East, South and the tail-end localities of the Old City area, on Friday, either went without water or received scant supply with low pressure.

Most of such complaints have been received from Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Khokarapar, Model Colony, Defence Housing Authority, parts of Saddar Town and Old City Area. Taking undue advantage of the situation, private tankers did a roaring business in the water-starved localities, charging from Rs400 to Rs500 per tanker.

Attributing the shortage to the 70mgd shortfall, the city had suffered on Thursday following bursting of a 72-inch dia rising main, a spokesman for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board claimed that the impact of the short supply was felt only in certain localities of former districts East and South, whereas other parts of the city received normal supply.

The 72-inch dia pre-stressed (concrete) rising main was ruptured due to a back pressure caused by a sudden power breakdown, which occurred at the Dhabeji pumping station at 3.15am on Thursday, resulting in short supply from the Indus source.

Asked about resumption of normal supply to the affected localities, he said that repiaring of the pipeline had already been initiated and the supply position was expected to be normalized by Saturday evening.

The independent sources in the KWSB said that there was no logic behind repairing the 72-inch dia rising main, which had earlier ruptured seven times, and again burst on Thursday, as it was laid down some 45 years back, and had already outlived its 30-year expected life.

The pipeline needed to be replaced with a new one instead of spending huge amounts on its repairs, they said. Meanwhile, complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from different sectors of North Karachi, Orangi, Baldia, Shershah, residential as well as industrial areas of SITE, Clifton's blocks 2, 4 and 5 and Mianwalli Colony.