After four days of shortages, residents ransack water works office

Residents of Microwave Colony and New Pind protest against NSUSC.

SUKKUR:

Residents of Microwave colony and New Pind ransacked the water works office in old Sukkur on Saturday afternoon, to vent their frustration against an acute water shortage for the last four days.

The residents organised a protest and walked to the water works office, shouting slogans against North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC). They attacked the office, broke down furniture and started a fire, forcing the staff to flee. Later, the protesters burnt tyres and furniture from the office on the road, blocking traffic for over an hour.

Protesters told The Express Tribune that drinking water is provided in their localities only twice a week. “In the sizzling hot weather, we face the brunt of long power outages without any water to drink,” complained a protester. Residents are forced to fetch water from the hand pumps installed in the low-lying areas of the city.

They accused NSUSC staff of large-scale corruption. “They demand Rs800 to Rs1,000 for a water tanker and it is almost impossible for us to pay the extra cost,” explained a protester.

NSUSC Director Abid Hussain was not available to comment, but the assistant director, Manzoor Bachkani, claimed that the water is supplied to New Pind and Microwave colony daily, either through pipelines or water tankers.

“A 12-inch diametre main pipeline supplies water to New Pind and Microwave Colony. The pipeline was laid in 1976 and has become old and rusty,” said Bachkani, adding, “When we release water at full pressure, the pipeline often burst, which suspends the water supply altogether.”

He said the NSUSC was carrying out efforts to ensure that the areas are supplied with water.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.