Citizens suffer in tug-of-war between KWSB, K-Electric

Cracks in Dhabeji pipeline halt supply of 650 million gallons of water to the city

KARACHI: The rift between the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and K-Electric (KE) deepened on Sunday after the 72-inch-wide water pipeline at the Dhabeji pumping station allegedly developed cracks due to a power outage.

This resulted in a shortfall of at least 650 million gallons of water to the city. The power utility, however, has denied any power failure at the city's main pumping station.

"The pipeline developed cracks after a power failure at KWSB's main pumping station, Dhabeji, which led to the water flowing back," said KWSB spokesperson Rizwan Hyder.

The power breakdown occurred at around 6:40am at Gharo, Pipri and Dhabeji pumping stations, he explained, saying this is why water supply to the entire city was halted.

"Since the water pressure was too high, the pipeline at the Dhabeji pump couldn't sustain the back flow and developed cracks," he said, adding that it would take at least 24 hours to repair the pipeline.

Meanwhile, KWSB managing director Misbahuddin Farid said the entire city would face water shortage in the next few days due to KE. He also blamed the private power utility for cracks in the Dhabeji pipeline.

War of words

Responding to KWSB's allegations, KE's marketing and communication chief, Fakhar Ahmed, denied any power failure at the pumping stations.

"Before the summer, we had already changed our transformers at the Dhabeji pumping station," he informed, adding that KWSB is blaming KE for its own faults.

According to him, the KWSB installed their machinery around 20 years ago [which results in frequent internal faults].

"On Monday (today) a K-Electric team would go to the Dhabeji pumping station and take pictures of the transformers there in working condition," he claimed.

However, Farid said he was present at the Dhabeji pumping station since Sunday morning when the electricity was cut off for five hours.

"I have taken up the matter with the chief minister and the local government minister," he said, adding that he would not let KE off the hook so easily, as the KWSB faced a huge loss due to the power breakdown.

According to the KWSB's press statement, due to the frequent power cuts by KE, the KWSB's motors have gone out-of-order and the water board bore a huge monetary loss.

Lights out in the city 

Several parts of the city also witnessed a major power breakdown on Sunday morning. According to Ahmed, the breakdown occurred as KE's main 132-KV transmission line tripped due to which four grid stations were affected.



He informed that areas in District South, including Defence, Clifton and Queen's Road, were affected. "Within two hours the electricity was restored," he claimed.

However, residents from other areas complained of power failure as well.

A resident of Nazimabad, Samin Salman, told The Express Tribune that the electricity at her house went at around 7am and came back late in the evening.

Even in Gulistan-e-Jauhar's Block 12 and 13, major power cuts were witnessed. A resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar's block 12, Kashif, said there wasn't any electricity in the area the entire morning on Sunday and was restored at 1pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2016.