KARACHI, May 23: Demonstrations were staged in Baldia and Lyari on Monday against persisting water shortage. Residents of Baldia Town staged a demonstration at a section of the main Hub River Road for about six hours, while residents of Lyari blocked Mauripur Road for two hours to voice their anger over persisting water shortage in their localities.
Participants of both the demonstrations dispersed peacefully after Nazim of Baldia Town Aurangzeb Khan and Naib Nazim of Lyari Town Malik Mohammad Awan visited the protesters in their respective areas and assured them that they would take up the issue with the City Nazim and the KWSB MD.
Later, Mr Aurangzeb called on the KWSB MD Brig Iftikhar Haider and conveyed him the concern of Baldia Town residents, who had warned that they would be compelled to gherao the KWSB office if water supply situation in their localities was not improved by May 25.
Brig Haider assured him that valve operation of Orangi and SITE towns would be kept closed while releasing water to Baldia Town as per the schedule so that the residents of Baldia could receive the supply with normal pressure.
Mr Aurangzeb told Dawn that residents of different sectors of the town took to the street in desperation after experiencing an acute shortage of water for a fortnight.
Malik Mohammad Awan told Dawn that although the residents of UC-3 and UC-4 in Lyari had been facing an acute water shortage for the last four days, the KWSB officials concerned had been taking no remedial measures despite numerous complaints.
Attributing the shortage to a mechanical fault in the concerned pumping station, he said that Lyari’s MNA and MPAs would call on the KWSB MD on Tuesday.
GOVERNOR: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has emphasised the need for initiating special measures to ensure proper and uninterrupted supply of drinking water to all parts of the city during the summer, agencies add.
Addressing a meeting held at the Governor’s House to review the water supply position in the city, the governor called for a constant vigil on pipelines bursts.
He stressed the need for maintaining judicious supply of water to all parts of the city, and said that supply through tankers should be resorted to only when necessary.
He issued directive for operational maintenance of Jamila Pumping Station in Lyari.
The meeting was informed that closure of LSR Hydrant and fixing of time at Muslimabad Hydrant would not affect the schedule of water supply.
The governor directed that strict watch should be maintained on the elements stealing water from pipelines and also on the tankers supplying polluted water.
The meeting considered arrangements for making the SITE Treatment Plant operational. The project envisages the treatment of industrial waste and its use for industrial purposes. As a result, the SITE would receive 16 million gallon per day under arrangements of private sector.
KARACHI, May 23: Demonstrations were staged in Baldia and Lyari on Monday against persisting water shortage. Residents of Baldia Town staged a demonstration at a section of the main Hub River Road for about six hours, while residents of Lyari blocked Mauripur Road for two hours to voice their anger over persisting water shortage in their localities.
