Running dry: Residents thirst for drinking water as barrage closes

SUKKUR: The annual closure of the Sukkur Barrage from January 6 to January 20 has led to a shortage in clean water for the residents of Sukkur for the past three days.

Though the water supply, drainage and sanitation system has been handed over to the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC), authorities have failed to make arrangements for the uninterrupted water supply. The corporation is being run by the Asian Development Bank since January 1.

Every year, Sukkur Barrage authorities announce the closure of the barrage for routine repair and maintenance. Utility authorities, in particular, were informed of the closure some time in advance in order for them to make appropriate arrangements. However, instead of making early arrangements, the authorities waited for the water level to go down before extending the pipeline to suck out the water. This process takes two to three days and thus the residents are deprived of water.

People in many areas of the city are compelled to fetch water from low-lying areas using hand pumps. Donkey-cart drivers are selling small drums of water in different localities from Rs50 to Rs80 per drum.

Bribes for water

Municipal fire brigades are also supplying water to some areas . However, people are complaining that the municipal staff is demanding bribes in exchange for water. The Sukkur TMA administrator, Abdul Shakoor Mahar, told The Express Tribune that municipal fire tenders are supplying water free of charge. He added that any complaints concerning bribes would be tackled accordingly. “The TMA has handed over water supply, drainage and sanitation to the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation from January 1st,” said Mahar, “and therefore, TMA is not responsible for the shortage of drinking water.”

“Following the closure of the Sukkur Barrage, we have installed four heavy duty suction pumps in Bakhar Island. These pumps will suck water from the river and supply it to the main tank of the water works [department] for the onward supply to the residents,” saud Sukkur NSUSC director Abid Hussain. “We have also applied for a temporary electricity connection at Bakhar Island and have deposited Rs670,000 at Southern Electric Power Company Limited (Sepco).”

“We had made this temporary arrangement well ahead of the closure, but Sepco failed to provide the electricity connection in time,” said the director. “Heavy-duty generators have also been put on standby for emergencies. Sepco is carrying out more than 12 hours of unannounced load-shedding in 24 hours, which is hampering the supply of water to the people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2011.