KARACHI, July 20: Various city areas remained in the grip of an acute water shortage, forcing the residents of the affected localities to either buy private tankers or consume sub-soil unhygienic water.

The hard-hit localities include different sectors of North Karachi, especially Sector 11-C/1; parts of Old City Area, such as Kharadar, Haquani Chowk, Pakistan Chowk, Burnes Road, Ranchorre Lines; Jamshed Quarters, Garden East, Gulshan-i-Iqbal's Blocks 2 and 4-A, Manzoor Colony and Mehmoodabad No 6.

Residents of the affected localities said although there had been a water shortage since the advent of summer, the KWSB officials have not yet taken measures to restore uninterrupted supply.

They deplored that in the absence of piped water, they have no choice but to either purchase private tankers at exorbitant rates or to consume sub-soil unhygienic water at the cost of their health.

Urging the city Nazim and the KWSB managing director to take immediate notice of the recurring water issue, they urged them to direct the officials concerned to immediately help resolve the issue as they cannot afford to buy private tankers.

Complaints have also been received about short supply of water or with a low pressure to the localities hooked to the Hub dam source. Residents of Shershah, SITE (both residential and industrial areas), Orangi, Baldia and Surjani townships, complained that they are not being able to meet their water requirements as they getting the supply with a low pressure.

Attributing the cause of low pressure to leakages, councillors of the affected localities said although they have time and again apprised the KWSB officials about the leaking pipelines no measures have been taken to plug them.

They regretted that on the one hand, a sufficient quantity of water was being wasted from the leaking pipelines and, on the other, a number of roads where leaking pipelines existed have already developed potholes and craters owing to stagnant water.