Water shortage to continue in city during Eid

KWSB announces to open water hydrants on Eid's second day

KARACHI: Muhib Ali, a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, stood for hours in a long queue at the hydrant in Safoora Goth to get a water tanker for his house. He had made sure to get there early, so he could join the queue before it got too long.

"We haven't received water in our taps throughout the month of Ramazan," Ali complained. "Today is Jumatul Wida and tomorrow will be Eid and here we are in search of water, leaving all our chores aside."

Another elderly man in the queue, Gul Khan, who lives near Mosamiyat, said his area had not received water from the past several weeks. "Even mosques in our area do not have enough water," he said, lamenting that it had become very difficult even to perform ablutions.

Today is Eid - a day of celebrations. For many Karachiites, however, the day will be spent worrying for water.



Orangi Town, which falls in District West, has been facing a severe water crisis for the past month. Residents of Islam Chowk in Orangi Town do not get water until they block roads and stop the movement of vehicular traffic. They complain that illegal connections from water lines have been given to the industries operating in the area.

"I can show you how illegal connections have been given to several factories operating in Orangi Town," said a resident, Ali. He warned that if the residents of the area were deprived of water on Eid, they would storm the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) office.

Some of the worst affected areas include Orangi Town, Baldia Town, New Karachi, North Karachi, Surjani Town, North Nazimabad and Nazimabad in West and Central districts. Residents of District Central had to stand in long queues at the hydrant at Sakhi Hasan while fasting. Many could not endure the heat while standing in queues and had to break their fast.

Water in the Hub Dam is at a dead level, according to KWSB Spokesperson, Muhammad Rizwan. "Hardly 20MGD [million gallons per day] water is being supplied from the Hub Dam," he said, adding that most areas of Karachi were being supplied water from the Indus River or through water tankers.



According to a KWSB press statement, the water board has taken foolproof measures for water supply during Eid. "KWSB [Managing Director] Khalid Mehmood Shaikh has [directed] the water hydrants to remain open from the second day of Eid so that water supply can be made possible," reads the statement. The board's complaint centre would also remain functional from 8am till 12am during Eid days.

In order to clear sewerage lines, jet rodding and sewer cleaning machines have been dispatched to different locations of the city, the statement reads. Standby generators and additional fuel have been arranged to ensure uninterrupted supply of water in case of a power breakdown.

Residents affected by the water shortage, however, fear that the KWSB may not keep its promise of opening hydrants on the second day of Eid. They also apprehend that the water tanker owners will exploit the water crisis in the city during Eid and charge exorbitant rates. A tanker of 1,000 gallons of water can be purchased from the government hydrants for Rs1,000, whereas, companies providing water tankers charge Rs3,000 for a tanker carrying the same volume.

With additional input from our correspondent