KARACHI:
Residents in North Karachi are faced with an acute water shortage because of which residents are required to purchase water through tankers. The tankers are costly and do not fulfil the water requirements of the residents.
One of the reasons for poor water supply is broken supply lines, which have reduced the flow of water to different parts of the city. The long transmission routes also cause disruptions in the supply as there are leakages and thefts, which account for a loss of almost 30% of the city’s water supply. The situation is further exacerbated by the poor performance of outdated and inefficient pumping stations. The water board should address this by refurbishing the pumping stations and installing new supply lines to ensure a smooth supply of water.
In the past, there was a crackdown on illegal hydrants to ensure an uninterrupted water supply. However, little has changed since. Some residents suspect that the water shortage is artificially created by tanker services for financial gains. If this is the case, then the relevant authorities should crack down on tanker mafias to make sure that water is easily available and accessible. Those involved in such malpractices must receive strict punishments and their services should be suspended. Despite several complaints against the inadequate water supply, the authorities have done little to address the concerns of the people. I want to urge all the relevant bodies to pay attention to this issue and resolve the water crisis at their earliest.
Nisar Ahmed
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2021.
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