THE residents of DHA in Karachi are facing an acute water shortage of late. Water is being supplied once or twice a week and that too for a short duration of no more than two or three hours.

The Clifton Cantonment Board is charging residents Rs 10,658 per year for a house built on 500-sq-yd plot.

The acute water shortage has placed residents at the tanker mafia’s mercy. Water tanker operators have increased their rate from Rs 2000 for a 3,000-gallon tanker to Rs 5,000.

During the operation of the short-lived Cogen Desalination Plant, the water supply situation in Defence had improved tremendously.

Without going into the demerits of installation of existing idle/condemned desalination plant, I would like to know why the authorities cannot instal at least two desalination plants based on the latest technology to overcome the nagging water problem in DHA.

The UAE is solely dependent on desalination plants to meet their water requirements and operates dozens of desalination plants. Then, why is the DHA unable to instal even one such plant that can help meet the ever-increasing water needs of DHA. I request the authorities to look into the matter with the urgency that it deserves.

Lt Col (r) M. Siddiqi

Karachi

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I live in Phase IV of Defence where water is supplied by the cantonment board. Of late the supply has been so drastically reduced that we hardly receive 90 gallons daily on average. I ask the authorities, how can a four-member family, survive on such meagre supply what to talk about larger households!

I complained to the SDO at Jabbal Pumping Station a number of times but to no avail. There being no other option except purchasing this precious life-sustaining commodity from water tankers. The rate for a 1,200-gallon tanker was Rs1,500 which has now doubled to Rs3,000. The excuse given is that all hydrants in the vicinity have been shut down and the water is being fetched from 70kms away.

In desperation, we are left with no choice except to appeal to the honourable chief minister to please regulate the water tankers and ensure the water tankers mafia does not fleece citizens for a basic right of all living beings.

Asad Ali Shah

Karachi

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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