KARACHI, April 12: Filthy water is being supplied to some parts of Baghdadi where residents have apprehended that if remedial measures are not taken immediately, water-borne diseases may break out in several localities.

According to the residents, they are getting contaminated water for the past few days due to leakages in pipelines. They claimed that the pipelines were damaged during the digging work being carried out by a civic agency to lay sewerage lines near Bombassa Street off Fida Hussain Shaikha Road.

They said sewage was getting mixed with the potable water throughthe leakages. They urged the authorities to take effective measures for plugging work in order to avoid spread of water-borne diseases, including gastro-enteritis.

Referring to the persisting shortage of water in the area, they lamented that despite repeated protests lodged with the authorities, no attempt was made as yet to resolve the problem.

Complaints of an acute water shortage have also been received from parts of Shah Beg Lane Union Council. The worst-hit locality appeared to be Ali Mohammad Mohalla where the problem persists for over a decade.

The residents of Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road have also complained that they have been facing an acute water shortage for several years and despite raising a hue and cry, no concrete steps were taken in this regard.

A resident of water deficit area of Kalri, Salim Raj, said: "We have constantly been making appeals to various agencies but the situation has remained unchanged."

A community leader demanded that at least 30mgd of water be supplied to Lyari Town to cater to the minimum need of the densely populated area. Some parts of Lyari Town have been facing acute water shortage because of defective water distribution system and illegal connections.

In some localities, residents blame the concerned valvemen for the 'artificial crisis' and claimed that he resorted to divert the due water share of their locality to some other areas for personal gains.