SARGODHA, April 16: The supply of potable water has worsened in Sargodha as ‘unknown persons’ have removed transformers and motor pumps from several water supply stations.

This was given out by Sargodha Tehsil Nazim Malik Shoaib Awan while talking to Dawn here on Sunday.

He claimed that several tubewells were installed along the bank of the Lower Jhelum Canal to ensure adequate potable water supply to inhabitants of Sargodha. Owing to the negligence of elected representatives and officials of the department concerned, he said scores of motor pumps and transformers worth millions of rupees had been stolen.

The tehsil nazim said thefts had been reported from tubewell No 4 at the Ludewala water supply (a 15 horse power motor), from tubewell No 1 (a 20 horse power motor), from tubewell

No 2 (a 20 horse power motor) and the transformer and from tubewell No 10 (a 20 horse power motor). While a 25 KV transformer and two motors of 20 horse powers and another motor of 40 horse power were stolen from New Satellite Town.

He further claimed that a hand shaft switch with 25 KV transformer had been stolen from Istaqlalabad Scheme, a motor of 10 horse power from Tariqabad Mela Mandi Road, a motor of 25 horse power from Company Bagh water works and a motor of 25 horse power from Eidgah.

A starter switch was removed from Ludewala Scheme No 3, a motor of 15 horse power from tubewell No 4 and everything except for its chamber from the tubewell No 14.

The tehsil nazim said that most of motors of pumping stations were lying out of order.

He said that cases have been lodged with police stations concerned.