People standing for hours to procure water tankers

Scheme which allowed Karachi residents to call tankers from home seems to have failed

KARACHI: The recent water crisis across the city has left the people highly perturbed. The scheme announced by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) managing director (MD), according to which people could call water tankers from homes, has miserably failed.

Residents of District Central are compelled to stand in queues at the hydrant at Sakhi Hasan while fasting. Many cannot endure the heat while standing in queues and have to break their fast.

A lady in the queue, Dilshad Bibi, shared that she lived near Anda Morr and her area was not receiving water for several weeks due to which lives of the residents of the area had become miserable. She lamented that even in the holy month of Ramazan, people did not have enough water to perform ablutions. To whom should we convey our problems, she said.

A Shadman town resident, standing in a queue, decried that the people had to stand for several hours to procure water tankers. The office registers the names, addresses and mobile phones of those who want water tankers. As many as 300 tankers are given to the queue of men while 100 tankers are given to women. Once the 400 tankers are given, the remaining crowd is sent back and they have to come next day again to go through the same ordeal.



The people in queues alleged that the staff deputed at the hydrants provided tankers to people who came on somebody's recommendations and who even did not stand in queues.

According to people, tall claims made by the KWSB MD were baseless, according to which people could call water tankers from homes.

They said that if the government officials wanted to witness the agony of people, they should visit Sakhi Hassan hydrant where women along with men stood in queues and sit on roads for several hours to procure tankers.

Continuing water theft

It has been reported that water theft on a massive scale is adversely affecting the water supply to various parts of the city.



The citizens are deprived of water due to the corruption of the KWSB officers. According to sources, various parts of the city are facing water scarcity, including Korangi, Landhi and Shah Faisal Colony.

The main water trunk passes through the Ghagar Phatak, Marshalling Yard and Port Qasim through which 22 million gallons per day (MGD) water is supplied to various parts of the city. It has been reported that in connivance with some KWSB officers, elements involved in water theft have been stealing water from the main line through over 29 illegal water connections between Ghaghar Phatak and Port Qasim, due to which out of 22 MGD, 8 MDG water is stolen.

Due to these illegal connections, water supply in various parts of the city is being affected. The sources shared that a group with the water board is actively involved in the theft of a large amount of water daily through technical means, due to which water does not reach many areas.



After Port Qasim, more illegal connections have been taken out from the line after Bhains Colony, where further 5 million gallons of water is stolen. The mafia steals 13 MGD water of 22 MGD meant to reach the respective areas. Only 9 MGD water is then left for the city. The sources say that water is being stolen in a highly organised manner. Despite the knowledge of an organised network involved in water theft, no measures have been taken by the KWSB.