KARACHI, July 9: Perturbed by persisting water shortage in Railway Colony, Haqqani Chowk, and some other parts of Saddar Town, elected representatives of the localities, on Tuesday, went on a fast-unto-death till the restoration of normal water supply.
Expressing their anger over the non-cooperative attitude of KWSB officials, the elected representatives of the localities deplored that although the residents of the affected localities were deprived of water for the last two-and-a-half months, the concerned KWSB officials have not bothered to help resolve the lingering water issue despite several complaints.
Those who went on the fast-unto-death include Saddar Town (Union Council No 4) Naib Nazim, Malik Nizamuddin Amir; councillors Qamaruddin, Mujahid Ahmed, Yousuf, Raza Amin, Amanullah, Haji Nawaz, Yousuf Rana, Mohammed Ayub and Saeed.
Urging the higher authorities to take disciplinary action against the concerned KWSB officials, they warned the authorities that they would recourse to drastic protest if water supply is not restored to their localities within the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, residents of some other water-starved localities, along with Jamshed Town Nazim, Ahmed Parekh, on Tuesday, gheraoed the offices of the KWSB’s chief engineer (water supply), situated at 9th-Mile, to protest against the non-availability of water in Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society’s ‘E’ Market, PECHS Block 2 and some other localities situated all along Sharae Faisal.
Residents of the affected localities, who gheraoed the chief engineer’s office, said that as soon as they reached the KWSB’s 9th-Mile office, the superintending engineer (Water Trunk Main), alleged responsible for curtailing the water quota of their localities as well as that of Haqqani Chowk in Lyari and Keamari, ran away from the scene to avoid the wrath of the angry crowd.
Accusing the SE (WTM) of reducing the water quota of the affected localities by over 50 per cent, they demanded of the higher authorities to ensure that the affected localities get their fixed quota of water and also take stringent action against the SE (WTM) for depriving the residents of the affected localities of water during the current hot and humid weather.
Complaints of persisting water shortage have also been received from North Karachi’s Sector 11, 11-C/1 (Sir Syed Town), Bilal Colony, Mehmoodabad No 6 and parts of Lines Area.
Residents of the affected areas demanded of the higher authorities to ensure normal supply of water without any further loss of time as they cannot afford to buy private water tankers for long.