KARACHI: As water supply from Hub Dam to the city has been slashed by more than half by the Water and Power Development Authority, various parts of the metropolis are likely to face severe water shortage, according to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The crisis may deepen if the supply is not restored immediately.

The KWSB spokesperson in a statement issued on Thursday said that Baldia Town, Surjani, Orangi, Qasba Colony, Banaras Colony, Paharganj, North Nazimabad, Saeedabad, SITE Town, Frontier Colony, Faqeer Colony, Farid Colony, Zia Colony, Ittehad Town and other areas could face water shortage.

He said the city was getting 100 million gallons a day from the Hub Dam but since April 3 the Water and Power Development Authority that manages the dam slashed the supply by 60 million gallons a day and currently only 40mgd was being supplied to Karachi.

The KWSB spokesperson said Wapda had cut the supply on the pretext that the water board had not paid its dues, which was incorrect because payment was being made on a regular basis. The water board had paid Rs2 million in February 2017 and another instalment of Rs2m would be paid in a day or two, added the KWSB spokesperson.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2017