Leaking pipeline Sir, An 18-inch water pipeline is leaking in front of my house (C-168, Block I, North Nazimabad) and I got complaint No 9763, dated 13/3/12, registered on the local government’s helpline 1339. Since then I have been making reminders on 1339.
On 9/7/12 I was lucky to find an ex-engineer in the Water Board office situated in North Nazimabad. He was kind enough to promise me to get it repaired. After 10 days I went again and saw an assistant engineer. He made the same promise. But so far nothing has happened. Now, dengue season has arrived.
I hope the relevant authorities will attend to this problem. Moreover, I would like to point out that water to this area is supplied after every four days.
DR ISLAM AHMAD Karachi
DHA roads Sir, The Karachi DHA is to be lauded for rewriting the principles of good urban planning and traffic-flow management. First they invented the unique ‘storm drain-down-the-middle’ road which necessitates weaving and veering to the sides of the road in order to avoid driving on the drain.
Now, they have come up with the idea of making certain main thoroughfares one-way roads down the centre with ‘service lanes’ along both sides allowing traffic to ply in the opposite direction.
To add to the general confusion and anarchy, traffic signals only regulate three sides of the crossing as there is not meant to be traffic coming down from the ‘one-way’ direction. However, all is not lost; our diligent traffic policemen step in and happily guide traffic that is coming down the wrong direction of the so-called one-way street in complete violation of the law.
LAILA KHAN Via email
Water shortage Sir, There is an acute water shortage in the DHA. Every day countless private tankers are seen delivering water to residents at exorbitant cost. On the other hand, the CBC, instead of distributing water through water lines, is apparently supplying water to a favourite few by free bowsers. These may be free to the beneficiary or maybe also to the CBC, but they are very costly to the ordinary residents whose tax money is used, or rather misused, for supplying free bowsers.
For the sake of transparency would the CBC declare how much water they are daily supplying through free bowsers and how much water is supplied through the line? It should also declare the total cost of supplies through bowsers.
Instead of giving free bowsers, the CBC should sell water to hardship cases in the area and at least recover part of their cost. This will partly eliminate the private water tanker mafia who are behind the shortages.
The CBC should also announce the timing and days when the supply valve is opened in each area, so that residents may know whether they are getting their share of water or if it is being sucked away by piston pumps. The Defence residents’ society should play an active role in supervising water supply.
A.G. HABIB Karachi
Telephone line Sir, Through your esteemed paper I would like to draw the attention of the higher authorities of the PTCL. My telephone number (35847431) has been out of order for more than a month. I had registered several complaints during this period at their helpline. Each time a complaint number was allotted to me and then it disappeared after two days without any rectification.
In this respect I may also add that only last year I got the telephone wires replaced (I paid from my own pocket to a lineman as the authorities refused to pay any attention to my numerous complaints). Now again they are giving me a tough time.
I therefore request the authorities concerned to please rectify my problem immediately.
MUNAZZA MUQUIM DHA