KARACHI, May 29 Residents of Bhitai Colony, Korangi Crossing, are facing an acute shortage of water as supply through tankers has been suspended to the areas for the last two and a half months.

Almost 90 per cent of the population of the locality, being administered by the Cantonment Board Korangi Creek (CBKC), depends on tankers as the water pipelines there have almost collapsed.

Residents of the locality told Dawn that it was a lengthy procedure to obtain a tanker trip from the pump. First they have to collect a slip for Rs30 and then submit it at the pumping station.

They added that the real trouble begins there as they are left at the mercy of the pump operators, who have their own priorities for supplying water through private tankers, which charge Rs150 for a trip.

However, on March 12 the CBKC had stopped the issuance of water slips for an indefinite period citing reduced supply from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The residents said that they were paying water tax annually to the CBCK besides the payment for each tanker trip, but they had been deprived of supply for over two and a half months. “We have been left with no option but to purchase a private water tanker at Rs1,000,” said a resident. He alleged that the CBKC tankers were still operating but supplying water only to the cantonment office, residences of its officials and some influential people of the locality.

An official of the CBKC said that the KWSB was responsible for the shortage as it had reduced supply to Bhitai Colony. But it was supplying water in abundance to illegal hydrants set up at Chakra Goth in Korangi that affected supply to the locality.

Meanwhile, residents of Union Council 3 in Lyari also complained of an acute shortage of water to the area for the last many days.

They said many complaints had been lodged with the authorities concerned, but they took no step to solve the problem.

Residents from Moosa Lane and Kharadar also complained that they have not received proper water supply for the last 47 days.