KARACHI, April 10: With the mercury going up, worries about water shortages which usually hit certain areas, including Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Korangi crossing, PIB Colony and parts of Baldia Town, in peak summer days have been making residents of such areas uneasy. The city, which requires 640 million gallons per day (mgd), is already facing a serious deficit in supply and the mega water project, the K3 which is supposed to supply an additional 100 mgd, is still far from completion.

The worn out water distribution network in the city is incapable of ensuring water supply to many congested areas hooked to it whereas the alternative source, the tanker service, has become notorious for fleecing people. Most of the tanker operators sell potable and brackish water at an exorbitantly high rates. In view of people’s miseries in this regard, attempts were made to transfer the control of hydrants to the city government so that the supply system could be regularized and prices controlled. However, no practical steps in this direction are in sight.

There is so much hype about desalination plants which are to be installed ‘very soon’, but again the progress towards resoling this pressing issue is very slow.

The only silver lining appeared to be the divine help as the city and its surrounding areas have received more rains this year than it had been receiving over the past many years. Though, the rains have averted the threat of an acute water shortage for the time being, it should be regarded as a grace period to do the needful by materializing all the projects and plans designed to counter water shortage.

The authorities should enhance water supply to Karachi from both the Indus river and Hub dam sources besides streamlining the entire distribution system. At the same time, the progress on K3 project and desalination plants should be accelerated.—PPI