19 October 2004	Tuesday	04 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 18: Various parts of the city on Monday either remained without water or received scant supply reportedly owing to unannounced changes made in their schedule of supply.

Residents of the affected localities complained that in the absence of water, they had no choice but to either buy tankers at exorbitant rates or consume subsoil unhygienic water at the cost of their health.

The hard-hit localities included Clifton's Block 2, Kharadar, Mithadar, Haqqani Chowk, Pakistan Chowk, Gulshan-i-Iqbal (Blocks 2 and 13/D/1), Jinnah Cooperative Housing Society, Bahadurabad No. 3 and different Sectors of Orangi, Baldia and North Karachi.

Residents of the affected localities said although they had been facing water shortage since the advent of Ramazan, the KWSB officials have neither informed them about the cause of short supply, nor they have taken measures to restore normal supply.

Accusing the valve-men of creating artificial water shortage, they said it is since first of Ramazan that they are some time supplied water after midnight and sometimes in the evening, as a result of which they not able to store water.

Residents of the affected localities demanded of the City Nazim and the KWSB managing director to instruct the officials concerned to restore normal supply without any further delay as they cannot afford to purchase tankers for a longer period.