HYDERABAD, Jan 10: Three talukas of Hyderabad – City, Latifabad and Qasimabad – are facing severe water shortage on account of closure of canals.

Since there are no water tankers available with Wasa or the HDA, people have to buy water from private tanker operators at exorbitant rates. Almost all parts of the city which depend on Wasa for water supply have been hit by the water shortage.

The capacity of two lagoons of Wasa is said to be around 400 million gallons but 300 to 325MGs of water is stored in the lagoons which could be supplied to people for eight days. A third lagoon has been built but it has not started functioning.

Wasa lifts water from the Akram Wah for filling its two lagoons in Karan Shoro Goth before releasing the water to a filter plant for treatment. Subsequently, water is supplied from the plant to different water works in the city.

The daily requirement of filtered water in the city stands at 54 million gallons but only 40MGs of water is supplied from Old and New filter plants.

The River Indus and its canals were closed on the night of Dec 25 for 15 days for annual repairs. The river was to be opened on the night of Jan 10 but in the wake of complaints of people, the district nazim and the HDA asked irrigation authorities to reduce the closure period and, thereafter, Wasa was allowed to lift water from Akram Wah at 5am on Tuesday.

However, the water treatment process has been badly affected due to demand of water by residents and authorities have no option but to ensure supply after curtailing the treatment process by 50pc, said an official source.

“The quantum of alum and chlorine has been increased in water being received at the filter plant because water is not staying at the plant for the required period of time,” said a source.