KARACHI, March 5: Leakages from the main water lines have created potholes at different places on Manghopir Road. The worst affected areas are Banaras Chowk and the portion of road near Valika Hospital. Pedestrians and people boarding and disembarking from public transport face great hardships.

A KWSB source said huge quantity of water was being wasted from the main pumping station of SITE Town located at Banaras Chowk and the officials concerned were well aware of the problem but to no avail.

“The leaking water can easily be saved by replacing a short piece of the main line, but the officials are not interested. Though another line at the pumping station was replaced a few weeks ago, the main supply line was yet to be replaced,” he said.

Traffic officials said due to the inundated roads they were facing difficulties while regulating the traffic at Banaras Chowk, saying that they could not save their dress clean in such a situation.

The shopkeepers also complained of the KWSB officials for not paying heed to their complaints. They said the damaged supply lines at different places needed immediate replacement.

When contacted, KWSB XEN at Site Town said the problem would be solved only with the replacement of supply lines, which was already under consideration.

However, he expressed ignorance about the wastage of water inside the pumping station and said the water that inundated the station was drained out.

New water pumps: Additional vice-chairman of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) MPA Mohammad Moin Khan has asked for replacement of old water pumps of 7-D and 5-D pumping stations in North Karachi Town.

During his visit to the town on Monday, he also inspected uplift works initiated by the KWSB.

He expressed his displeasure over the poor working of the pumping stations and asked the officials concerned to install new pumps and prepare a PC-1 in this regard within a week.

Taking a note of the public complaints regarding water shortage in 4-K Chowrangi area, he asked for preparation of PC-1 for laying a 24-inch-dia water pipeline in the area. He also asked for installation of flow meter at Saba Pumping Station, Nagan Chowrangi.

North Karachi Town Nazim Hanif Soorti, Naib Nazim Shakilur Rehman, UC nazims, naib nazims, CE Zone-111 Qutab Sheikh and SE Salim Siddiqui were also present.