SUKKUR, Jan 7: A water crisis has hit Sukkur as in previous years, negating claims of the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) that it had made alternative arrangements for water supply to the citizens during the annual closures of canals.

Canals flowing from the Sukkur barrage will remain closed from Jan 6 to 20 for annual repairs and removal of silt from the Indus riverbed as well as the canals.

The NSUSC authorities had pledged that alternative arrangements would be in place during the annual closure of canals and that a jetty was under construction on Bhakar Island to ensure water supply to the citizens, but the promise has yet to be fulfilled. The worst-hit areas include Nusrat Colony No 6, Jinnat Building, Baban Shah Muhalla, Dubba Road, Shalimar Road, Qureshi Road, Bhoosa Lane, Microwave Colony, New Pind, Minara Road and Kumbhar Para. All these localities have received scant water supply since Sunday.

Residents of these areas are compelled to fetch drinking water from hand pumps, tanks and water filtration plants set up at long distances.

Various social organisations have warned of protests if water supply was not arranged by the NSUSC soon enough.

On the other hand, the Indus water level at Sukkur has decreased at the Water Works and on the right bank Sukkur barrage after which the NSUSC administration has become active and started excavation to make a temporary path for water from the Lansdowne bridge to the Water Works to supply water up to the works.

NSUSC director for operation Abid Hussaini has told the media that arrangements have been made to ensure water supply to the citizens as per their requirement, adding that the thickly populated hilly area of New Pind would be supplied water through water tankers.

He said water supply to the citizens would be made from Water Works of Bunder Road from Tuesday while water supply was being made according to a plan from the Water Works of the Numaish ground.