Water shortage

It is a perennial issue for the city residents

It is the season of animal sacrifice, it is the season of goat sacrifice, and it is the season of scapegoating. With Eidul Azha at hand, the whole of Karachi is experiencing an acute shortage of water, making it difficult for those who have to take care of animals they have bought to sacrifice on the occasion. Water shortage is a perennial issue for the city residents, and the paucity of the precious commodity only keeps changing in intensity as the demand for it rises and falls. The city has long been facing a shortage of 600 million gallons daily water— with more than half its need left unmet by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). Ironically, the shortfall in piped supply of water is fulfilled by tanker and can sellers. Plenty of water is available in tankers and cans. Now it is evident that only those who have money can drink water and get it for other uses. There are three contending parties to the issue: the KWSB, K-Electric, and hapless and helpless consumers.

The last one is left to suffer as the water board and the electric supply company are engaging in buck passing blaming each other for the acute shortage of water. The KWSB is blaming K-Electric for depriving people of water in the extremely hot weather, saying the shortage has been caused due to non-availability of electricity at its pumping stations. It claims that three water pipelines burst as a result of four electricity breakdowns in the current month. These prolonged power outages caused a major disruption in water supply to the entire city. In this situation, it would take another 48 hours to restore normal water supply. K-Electric denies the allegation and described it as an attempt by the KWSB to hide its own incompetence. Considering that power supply in the city has improved in recent months, the KWSB’s argument is hardly convincing; an attempt at scapegoating others for its own failing. Scapegoating, however, gives a feeling of confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2021.

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