KARACHI, April 17: An acute shortage of water has been persisting in various parts of the city for the last fortnight, forcing the affected people to either purchase private tankers or consume sub-soil unhygienic water.

The hard-hit localities include Mehmoodabad, Ashraf Colony, parts of Lyari’s UCs 5 and 6 including Baghdadi, Kalri, Shah Beg Lane and Daryabad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s block 2, Clifton’s block 2, North Nazimabad’s blocks C, S and T, PIB Colony, Jinnah Cooperative Housing Society, Al-Hamra Society, Bangalore Town, parts of Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society, etc.

According to the residents of Mehmoodabad and Ashraf Colony, falling in Jamshed Town’s UC 4, they have been experiencing the acute shortage since long as these localities receive water for only 20 minutes in 48 hours.

“Severity of the lingering water problem can be gauged from the fact that the mosques in our localities do not have water for ablution purpose. Their underground tanks often remain dry for weeks together,” deplored one of the perturbed residents of Ashraf Colony.

Attributing the persisting shortage to the drying up Hub dam reservoir, from where the supply has reduced to around 50mgd as against the normal 100mgd, sources in the KWSB said that with a view to offset the problem of shortage in the supply to the localities hooked to the Hub source, around 40 million gallons Indus water was nowadays being diverted to these areas.

“Since a huge quantity of 40mgd Indus water, that was being diverted to the Hub-fed localities, was, in fact, being deducted equally from the quota of various towns, certain localities are experiencing water shortage,” the sources conceded.

The supply position, not only in the affected localities but the entire metropolis, would considerably improve soon with the formal commissioning of the K-III project, whereby the city would start getting an additional supply of 100mgd water, the sources maintained.

Complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from the Orangi Town’s Sector 11½, parts of Ghausia Colony, Benazir Colony, Urdu Chowk and the adjoining localities of these areas.

Residents of these areas complained that the problem persisted for one-and-a-half month when Hub dam had started drying up. “Although the KWSB has made some alternative arrangements, the duration of water supply has been curtailed, making it impossible for us to store water till the next turn of supply, usually after 72 hours,” a resident of Orangi Town’s Sector 11½ said.

REPORT SOUGHT: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman has taken notice of reports of water shortage in various city areas and supply of contaminated water and asked for details in this regard from Provincial Secretary Local Government and KWSB Managing Director, adds APP.

He directed that effective steps be taken for supply of water within 24 hours and a report be submitted thereof in two days.

Taking notice of complaints by M. Ismail Rajput and Haji Mohammed Ayub Alwari regarding water shortage in B-Area, Korangi-6 due to an ice factory at Farooq-i-Azam Road, the chief secretary directed the Secretary Local Government and KWSB Managing Director for solution of this problem.

The chief secretary also took notice of water shortage and supply of contaminated water in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Blocks-5, 13-D and 16, North Karachi, Lines Area, Lyari, Pak Colony, Golimar, Jauharabad, Asifabad, Zuberi Colony, Hasan Aulia Village and SITE Town.

He directed that immediate action be taken on these reports along with submission of report in 48 hours. He directed that for supply of water in deficit areas through regular supply or tankers be ensured while in case of power suspension, standby generators should be used.