June 16, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 11, 1429

HYDERABAD, June 15: Following an understanding between Water and Sanitation Agency and the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Hesco has chalked out a proper loadshedding plan for Wasa’s pumping stations and water reservoirs.

Earlier in a meeting held between Wasa and Hesco officials, the electricity company had assured Wasa that they would improve electricity supply to water pumping stations and the loadshedding would follow a proper schedule.

Wasa Managing Director Bashir Awan said that uninterrupted water supply had been ensured on the part of the Wasa though the loadshedding by Hesco continued at the agency’s water reservoirs.

He denied that there was a shortage of water in lagoons or other storage tanks in other parts of the city.

Hesco is carrying out eight to ten-hour loadshedding during a 24-hour period. Power supply went off after every two hours for one to two hours.

Against the Wasa MD’s claim that water supply is uninterrupted, people in protest demonstrations staged in various parts of the city complain that they are not getting regular supply of water.

Apart from the loadshedding, ongoing works in water supply sector under Hyderabad Development Package (HDP) are another cause of these complaints.

The problem of non-supply of water in various parts of the city was discussed in the district council session a few days ago where almost all the public representatives on both sides of the aisle condemned the Wasa’s performance, holding it responsible for the water crisis.

Latifabad and Paretabad are the worst his areas.

Some units of Latifabad were supposed to be tail-end areas in the Wasa’s water distribution system while a new water filter plant had been made operational in Paretabad after having been inaugurated by Sindh Governor.

However, it has not yet been handed over to Wasa by HDP officials.