KARACHI, June 19: The lower staff of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is working unchecked as, as top bosses of the Board are occupied with official meetings.

The KWSB officials, seeking anonymity, told the APP that the official meetings, in connection with the water shortage in different areas, kept the chief engineer so occupied that he found no time to check superintending engineers, assistant engineers, etc.

There was no monitoring of the field staff, who were allegedly involved in giving illegal water connections to individuals after taking bribe.

In order to supply water to these illegal connection holders, valve operations were allegedly manoeuvred, depriving tax payers and legal connection holders of routine water supply, the officials alleged.

The interference by the political pressure groups was another factor contributing to erratic and inequitable water supply, the KWSB engineers said.

“We can not sit in our offices, as the people have lost patience due to fault of lower staff,” said an engineer, whose office was ransacked by protesters over acute water shortage in former districts Central and West.

In order to provide water to Orangi, Baldia and Lyari, which were hooked to the Hub water source, water supply to other areas, particularly to defunct district Central, including Nazimabad, North Nazimabad and North Karachi Town, had been curtailed, resulting in water shortage in these areas, another officer said.

When asked, one of the valve men, defending his colleagues, said that water supply from the Indus source had reduced by 18 to 20 per cent, this summer, causing shortage in former District Central.

Regarding illegal connections, he accused the elected representatives of setting examples, which were followed by the lower staff.

Meanwhile, North Nazimabad and Nazimabad towns are the latest areas facing acute water shortage.—APP