KARACHI, Oct 9: Admitting that the water shortage problem has become more acute in many parts of Lyari for the last two months, elected representatives warned if remedial steps are not taken, people may come out on streets.
According to residents, Lyari has never received its water quota. Official record shows that the share of water supply to Lyari is 13mgd, but the community leaders say that the locality hardly gets 8mgd.
When contacted, the Nazim of Lyari Town, Abdul Khalique Juma, said there was an acute shortage of water in many parts of the town.
In this regard, he referred to adjoining areas of Faqir Mohammad Dura Khan Road, Chawkiwara, Kalakot, Singoo Lane, Shah Waliullah Road, Kalri and new Kalri.
He said for the past several years, neither there was any enhancement keeping in view the growing needs by the authorities, nor proper steps were taken to plug the leakages.
The Nazim who was a former provincial legislator said most of the elected representatives of local bodies have been running from pillar to post to solve the water shortage problem of their respective areas. But they could not hardly approach the KWSB officials who are either unwilling or are incapable of solving the problem.
He agreed that among the major civic problems, the water shortage problem has been ranked as number one in the town which needs immediate solution.
The Nazim said since the inception of Lyari Town all possible efforts were made to draw the attention of the authorities towards the grievances of the people.
He said meetings were also held with the City Nazim and Naib Nazim and the KWSB officials, but there was no positive outcome and people continue to suffer.
A survey shows that there are localities in Lyari with water connections that have received simply no water supply in many years. Such localities include Ali Mohammad Mohallah, parts of new Kalri and old Kalri.
When they do receive water, it is often visibly polluted, having mixed with sewage from defective and leaking drainage lines, making it unfit for cooking and drinking.
Complaints of contaminated water have also been received from Nawa Lane and parts of Kalakot areas.
WATER THEFT: Water theft has become a regular feature in the locality. Since Lyari lies at the tail-end of the city’s water distribution system, it also suffers the most from any diversion of water from this system by rich and powerful neighbourhoods that lie above Lyari in the distribution system.
Naturally, as Karachi’s water supply has failed to keep pace with its growing population, the pilferage of water has increased, exacerbating water problems in Lyari.
SEWERAGE: Mr Abdul Khalique Juma also admitted that sewerage problem was also alarming, saying overflow of sewage has become a common sight.
Besides water shortage, the elected local bodies representatives have to pay attention to the solution of sewerage problem, he said.
The existing disposal system in the locality has utterly failed to meet the demands of a growing population and it needs an overhaul.
In most of the localities, cracks have appeared in the sewerage lines which were laid in early 70s. As a result, sewage gets mixed with water lines.
There are pools of sewage on many a roads and streets because of overflowing gutters. In addition, accumulations of garbage has become a common sight in the locality.