Finding alternatives: Irked by power outages, Sukkur residents switch to earthen coolers

These water containers, when kept under a shade, provide cool water for drinking.

SUKKUR: The unprecedented power crisis in Sukkur has made residents distance themselves from appliances, such as refrigerators and water dispensers, and switch to traditional earthen water coolers.

These coolers prove to be an all-time blessing since they provide cool water. The only requirement is to keep the earthen pots under a shade.

More and more people are switching to earthen water coolers, which are 'far better' than refrigerators as they do not depend on electricity to run. "These coolers and other earthenware not only filter water naturally, their little pores also help air pass through," said a seller of earthenware, Muhammad Shafiq. "This way, it produces cold water naturally."

He described how, until recently, only a few people used to buy these earthen water coolers as the power situation was not as terrible in the city as now. "Fifteen to 18 hours of power outages have forced the people to switch to these coolers," he said. Talking about ice as a means to cool drinking water, he said that purchasing ice can be very costly for many people.

"Most of the water coolers we offer for sale at our shop are made in Punjab but some people are also making them locally," said Shafiq. About the price, he said it ranges between Rs200 to Rs500 depending on the size of the cooler.

Residents of Sukkur are switching to earthenware coolers to beat the heat. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Another seller, Muhammad Bux, was very happy that prolonged power outages have made the people opt for earthen water coolers. "We have been in this business for the last many decades and cannot switch to any other business," he said. "Many people are now switching to earthenware, which has made this dying business flourish again. Earlier, I used to sell one or two earthen water coolers in a day. But now, sales have gone up to 15 to 20 coolers a day."

The drinker's version

Karim Bux, a resident of New Pind, said that he has been using the earthen water coolers for the last many years and is quite satisfied with their performance. "Eight years ago, I bought a second-hand refrigerator," he said. "Pretty soon, however, I realised my fault as electricity in our area remains absent most of the time. Therefore, I sold it and switched to the earthen cooler. Now we get cold water round the clock without having to worry about electricity." He further suggested that people should opt for earthen water coolers and forget refrigerated water.

Amma Hameeda, a resident of Takkar Muhalla, talked about the benefits of using these traditional coolers. "I am almost 70 years old and have never consumed refrigerated water," she claimed. "Earthen coolers and earthen pots are the best for drinking water and cooking food. I never use steel or aluminium utensils for cooking." She added that refrigerators, air conditioners and other such appliances have changed our lifestyles and we have become lazy by depending on them.

"Refrigerators and air-conditioners are designed for the President and Prime Minister houses, where electricity never goes off," she said sarcastically.

Another resident of Old Sukkur, Ali Gohar, believes that earthen water coolers are no less than a blessing. "It is quite natural and needs no ice; just air to cool the water," he said. "In our home, we cover the earthen cooler with a damp cloth, which helps make the water cooler."

However, he lamented about how the people of Sukkur have little to no access to civic facilities. "With no electricity, no gas and other civic facilities, it seems the government wants us to go back to Stone Age," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2015.