KARACHI, Oct 13: Water supply to various parts of the city would remain suspended for 24 hours, starting from 10am on Tuesday.
The localities and some major installations which would go dry for 24 hours include Liaquatabad, all blocks of Federal ‘B’ Area, Nazimabad, SITE, Shershah, Baldia, Mauripur, Grex Village, Manghopir Colony, Manora, PAF (Masroor), Kanup (plant and residential colony), naval installations, Marine Academy and its adjoining area.
A KWSB spokesman said that the decision to suspend water supply has been taken to facilitate the air and scour valves’ installation works in the 48-inch dia Federal Trunk Main at three places which include Gujjar Nullah, Liaquatabad No 4 and Jinnah Square.
He said that since 24 hours would be required to complete the installation works, water supply to all the affected localities would be restored at 10am on Wednesday.
ROAD FLOODED: Water overflowing from Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s LSR pumping station has inundated a major portion of University Road (from UK Apartments to Old Sabzimandi), causing hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic.
KWSB sources said that water from the LSR pumping station had started overflowing in the early hours of Saturday morning and following which they had to stop the pumping of water from three pumps due to fluctuation of power.
However, the KWSB’s superintending engineer (Water Trunk Mains) claimed that it was filthy water that was overflowing on University Road from a choked sewerage nullah, passing through the petrol pump and that it was the responsibility of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town’s concerned staff to clean the nullah.
The stoppage of pumping water from the LSR also affected the water supply of different societies and parts of Gulshan-i-Iqbal.
Attributing the cause of persisting water shortage in different societies, including PECHS and Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society, to frequent power fluctuations, the KWSB officials said that they are forced to stop the pumping process from the LSR pumping station whenever there is fluctuation of power to avoid damage to the pumping machines.
Residents of PECHS blocks 2 and 6 complained that although they had been experiencing acute water shortage for the last six days, the KWSB officials had not taken any measures to rectify the fault.
Complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from the residents of Muslimabad’s Catholic Colony 2.
F.B. AREA HYDRANT: City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, has directed the KWSB to immediately remove its hydrant from F.B. Area’s water pump as tankers drawing water from there were not only creating obstacles in the smooth flow of traffic but also causing damage to the metalled road.
The city government sources said that the pipeline supplying water to the hydrant would be used for improving the water supply position of deficient pockets of Federal ‘B’ Area after removal of the hydrant.
Bhittai Colony: The Bhittai Colony, Korangi Crossing, is facing water shortage problems as well as damaged sewerage system and roads, adds APP.
The chairman of the All-Pakistan Hazara Alliance, Malik Masood-ur-Rehman, in a statement on Saturday, urged the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to help resolve the problems of the area.
He urged that the road from Korangi Crossing to Qayyumabad be made dual and there should be a proper system of street lights.
The APHA chief pointed out that at present accidents take place frequently on this one-way road which is without lighting and also badly maintained.
He, however, pointed out that with the construction of a bus stop on Bhittai Colony-Korangi Crossing, a longstanding demand of the area people has been met.
For this, he acknowledged the efforts of Base Commander Air Commodore Khalid Bashir Cheema of PAF Base Korangi Creek and Cantonment Executive Officer, Rizwan Ahmed Qazi.