KARACHI: Rangers & KWSB fail to resolve differences: Row over hydrants
By Azizullah Sharif
KARACHI, May 25: The tug of war between Rangers and KWSB on Wednesday further intensified as the later refused to take over two hydrants –- Muslimabad and LSR (Low Supply Reservoir in Gulshan-i-Iqbal) –- and the Rangers failed to come out with a plan for meeting the shortfall after closure of the LSR.
When KWSB Managing Director Brig Iftikhar Haider was contacted by Dawn to ascertain whether the Rangers had handed over both the hydrants to the KWSB, he said: “In fact, the Rangers were supposed to close down the LSR after adjusting the tankers at its disposal to supply water on both gratis and commercial basis.
“We have even offered to provide more filling points at other hydrants where Rangers could adjust the tankers presently drawing water from the LSR, and have also asked them to increase the number of commercial tankers so as to cover the additional cost, if they think, that a tanker might incur while supplying water to a distant locality,” he added.
Asked how many tankers are, at present, drawing water from the LSR, he said that the number of tankers is 3,000 (1,400 on gratis basis and 1,600 on commercial basis).
Responding to another query, Brig Haider said that as a matter of fact, the KWSB had decided to close down the LSR merely to help improve the water supply position of a number of localities of at least four towns — Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Lyari, Saddar and Jamshed Town — through pipelines.
“We are sure that with the closure of the LSR, the level of water in the COD filter plant will automatically go up which means that all the localities of the four towns will get the supply with pressure,” he said, and reiterated that KWSB would definitely close the hydrant for ensuring an uninterrupted and smooth water supply to various localities of the four towns through pipelines.
BLACKMARKETING: At a time when both the Rangers and the KWSB are at loggerheads over the issue of the hydrants, the tankers drawing water from LSR are indulged in blackmarketing of water, charging between Rs1,000 and 1,200 for a tanker of 2,000 gallons.
Taking an undue advantage of the Rangers-KWSB tussle, a large number of private tankers which were seen parked in the periphery of the LSR were seen demanding more than three times higher rates of tankers from the people living in water-starved localities.
During a visit to the LSR hydrant on Wednesday, this correspondent witnessed heavy rush at the LSR’s complaint centre. The people, including women, were waiting for their turn to get a slip for a water tanker in the prevailing hot and humid weather.
Most of them had come from different blocks of Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Manzoor Colony, Gulshan-i-Jamal and Dalmia area.
A woman, who had come from Manzoor Colony and was literarily crying, told Dawn that she was shuttling between her residence and the LSR for two days but had not yet been able to get a slip from the complaint centre owing to the heavy rush. “I have no choice but to get a slip for water tanker at the official rate because I cannot afford to opt for other tankers parked in the vicinity of the LSR and charging exorbitant rates,” she maintained, adding that she did not have water at her home even for washing purpose.
A young man said that he had reached the LSR complaint centre at about 6am but could not succeed in lodging his complaint or getting the slip till 2.45pm. “Isn’t it sad that I had to take leave from my office today only for arranging water and queuing up here for the purpose?” he deplored.
