KARACHI, June 26: Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has expressed his displeasure over the position of electric and water supply in the city and dissatisfaction over the performance of water board and the KESC.

Taking a serious notice of the situation, he issued strict directives to the concerned officials to ensure a smooth supply of both the utilities and expressed the hope that the two institutions would bring about an improvement in their services and provide relief to the citizens.

The CM’s remarks came during his meeting with a delegation of social workers which called on him at the CM House here on Thursday.

Mr Mahar told the delegation that his government was determined to resolve the problems being faced by the people Sindh.

Referring to the new budget, he said that it would determine the course of progress and prosperity of the province.

The funds allocated for development sectors, he pointed out, would prudently be utilized from July and that the people would be provided with all basic facilities. — Agencies

An acute shortage of water persisted in some parts of the old city areas as the city government’s plan to ensure availability of water in deficit areas on a rotation basis could not be implemented as yet, adds our staff reporter.

The residents of the affected areas said although their localities had been experiencing a serious shortage for the past many years, the officials concerned had failed to take any measures that could lead to improve the situation. They pointed out that their repeated complaints had fallen on deaf ears.

The residents of Shah Beg Lane and Daryabad union councils, who have been facing water shortage for more than a decade, are still running from pillar to post to get their problem resolved. The authorities’ indifferent attitude and false promises had forced them to stage protest rallies and demonstrations some of which, held recently, turned violent.

An activist, also representing an NGO, pointed out that the authorities did start work on a water supply line meant for Ali Mohammad Mohallah, but it was stopped abruptly only to the sheer disappointment of the local people.

Lamenting the concerned officials, he said the suspension of work was a violation of the decisions taken recently at a meeting which was chaired by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan and attended by the Nazim Lyari Town, MNA of the area and members of local bodies. He said that one of the decisions was that supplies to water deficit areas of the town would be made on a rotation basis.

Sources close to the city government added that it was also decided that the work on the water pipeline in Ali Mohammad Mohallah would be undertaken immediately.

However, they claimed, the abrupt suspension of work was the result of political influence applied by certain elements who opposed the decision on the lame excuse that the water supply to Moosa Lane would ultimately be affected. The water line meant for Ali Mohammad Mohallah has nothing to do with the supply network of Moosa Lane, the sources argued.

Local activists also criticized the biased attitude of the Nazim of the UC Baghdadi accusing him of hatching a conspiracy against the UC of Shah Beg Lane.

They warned that the residents of water-starved localities were losing patience with the persisting shortage and might resort to agitation.

Complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from other parts of old town areas which include Bhimpura, Jubilee Cinema, Kharadar, Mithadar and Ranchore Line. Residents of these areas said that they were made to buy tanker water at an exorbitantly high rate. They urged the city Nazim to ensure a normal supply at the earliest.

WEEKLY REPORT: Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi has asked the Water Board to submit him report on weekly basis about water supply situation.

He has sought a weekly report also on the progress of the work on plugging the leakages in pipelines.

Calling for a close coordination between the Board and the KESC, the secretary directed the concerned officials to keep the valve operation suspended during loadshedding hours so as to avoid loss of water.

He further directed them that the water meant for residential areas must not be supplied to industrial units.

A notice of this practice is being taken, he said and warned of action against those supervisors and valvemen found responsible.