THE residents of Sindh Baloch Coperative Housing Society in Block 12 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar have not been receiving water through the main line for many years and are dependent on water tankers to meet their needs.

After the introduction of the online water delivery portal, we were using it for water delivery, which is 1,000 gallons per week. If we place an order for replenishments before the expiry of one week, a message is received: “you have consumed your quota for one week, try next week”.

For the past one month I have been daily trying to place an order for our 1,000 gallons but I receive a message: “quota for your area is finished, try tomorrow at 8am in the morning.”

As a result I have been forced to purchase water at exorbitant rates from water tanker operators. I called the KWSB call centre to lodge a complaint and they replied that they could not do anything in the matter. Therefore, I am left with no choice except air my grievances through these columns.

I am unable to understand the logic behind a quota. If there is a quota then who has sanctioned it and on what basis? Further, is this information available to the public? If so, where?

Then the million-dollar question is: if there is a water shortage, then how come the water tankers deliver water against cash payment within a few hours?

The authority concerned needs to address the matter.

Nazar ul Haq

Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020