KARACHI, Nov 22: People in different parts of the city have been experiencing water shortage since the advent of Ramazan.

The localities which are either without water or are receiving scant supply since the beginning of Ramazan include various blocks of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Clifton (blocks 2, 4, 5 and 7), Nazimabad No 3 and Defence View bungalows.

The localities which have been facing water shortage for the last two days include PECHS, Block 6 (Green belt Area), parts of Old City Area, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Federal B’ Area (blocks 9, 14, 17, 19 and 20), Bahadurabad (Block 3) and Hussain D’ Silva Town.

Attributing the cause of water shortage to a change in water supply schedule from the first of Ramazan, the KWSB sources said though they had managed to ensure an equitable distribution of water, still there were some localities where supply position had not yet been normalised.

About water shortage in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, some insiders said a certain quantity of water meant for the locality was allegedly being diverted to the Scheme-33 where construction activity was going on at a fast pace as compared to other localities.

They said the valve operation staff had been depriving certain blocks of Gulistan-i-Jauhar of their fixed quota of water by diverting water supply to KDA Scheme-33.

With regard to water shortage that has been persisting in Clifton’s blocks 2, 4, 5 and 7, the KWSB officials said they were not unable to ensure equitable distribution of water because their bulk supplies have drastically been cut down by the concerned officials.

They said they had already taken up the issue with the senior officials of Water Trunk Main and expressed the hope that the water supply position would improve in a day or two.

Residents of F.B. Area’s Block 20 complained that although they had been experiencing water shortage for the past five days, the concerned officials have not yet been able to restore normal supply.

Taking an undue advantage of persisting water shortage, private tankers charged exorbitant rates from the residents of water-starved localities.

Some residents of PECHS Block 6 and Gulistan-i-Jauhar said that private tankers’ rates in their localities ranged between Rs500 and 600, per tanker.