NAWABSHAH, Sept 7: Nawabshah faces the worst shortage of drinking water in years in the wake of closure of canals preceded by heavy rains, which has caused supply lines to burst and develop leaks at many places.

The city gets 80 million gallons daily from Gujrah Wah and Rohri canal. The supply was reduced to five million gallons a day after closure of Rohri canal in the wake of rains as a precautionary measure to avoid breaches.

The supply from Gujrah Wah was severely hampered as water supply lines developed leaks and drinking water was mixed with drainage lines because of stagnant rainwater.

The taluka municipal administration tried to convince irrigation department to open Rohri canal for a few hours to allow them to fill ponds and store water for at least 20 days but the request was turned down, according to sources in the TMA.

The damage caused by heavy rain to sewerage, water supply and drainage lines have not been repaired yet because of shortage of technical staff and inundation of roads.

A number of water filtration plants installed by MNA Faryal Talpur, Indus Rangers and other philanthropists to provide free of cost water to people have also stopped functioning because of water shortage and people are compelled to purchase bottled water.

The sudden increase in the demand for bottled water has ratcheted up its price and led to its shortage although most people cannot afford to buy it.

The taluka municipal officer was not available for comments.

Sub-engineer Huzoor Bux Soomro said that repair of ruptured and leaking lines would start after technical teams were done with draining out water from the town.

MNA Faryal Talpur has asked the district administration to complete repair works on a war footing and make alternate arrangements for provision of clean drinking water to people.