Tanker mafia fleece helpless citizens

Amidst a worsening water crisis, illegal suppliers demand skyrocketing prices

KARACHI:

For people accustomed to gushing water flowing out of each faucet, cooking or cleaning would fall under the list of humdrum chores yet for locals in Karachi surviving amidst a worsening water crisis, no household task involving liquid life is possible without first engaging in an endless bargain with a variety of tank suppliers.

Shahida, a resident of Korangi, shared her family's daily struggle to access water for their household needs. "There is a severe shortage of water across different areas of Korangi. Water is being supplied through tankers with prices ranging from Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 per thousand gallons of water. At a time when people are already perturbed by inflation, the water mafia has only added to our worries," bemoaned Shahida, who felt that the government had failed to ensure an equitable water distribution across areas in Karachi.

Like Shahida, Khawaja Jamal Sethi, business leader and resident of Nazimabad also revealed that several areas in his locality were suffering from a severe water shortage. "A water tanker is available at an additional cost of Rs3,000 to Rs4,000. However, even having the surplus money is sometimes not enough since you also have to have contacts with influential people in order to buy a water tanker in a timely manner from the mafia," riled Sethi.

"Currently, the biggest problem bedevilling locals in Karachi is the scarcity of tap water. There is a water shortage in most areas of the city including Orangi Town, Surjani Town, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Site, Korangi, Malir, Lines Area, Kemari, Maripur and Lyari. As a result of this shortage, the city is ruled by the tanker mafia, which sells water in the black market at exorbitant rates," disclosed Laila Raza, an urban planner and social activist.

Expanding on Raza's revelations, Mohammad Saleem Khan, a local social leader, further added that water tankers in Karachi were being sold by profiteers at rates which were at least Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 more than the prices fixed by the government. "Where has Karachi's water disappeared?" questioned Khan.

According to Mohsin Raza, General Secretary of the People's Labour Union of the Water Corporation, "Karachi needs 1200 million gallons of water per day while the supply is barely 415 million gallons per day. Apart from the seven legal water hydrants, dozens of illegal hydrants continue to operate in the city, which steal water from the water board lines and sell it in the black market. Whether it is an official hydrant or an illegal hydrant, in both cases the tanker owners are robbing the citizens by selling water at high prices. The real water crisis can only end when additional water mega projects like K-IV are completed and illegal hydrants are eliminated," opined Raza.

"As per the new rates for this year, a 1,000-gallon tanker is being sold for Rs1,560, a 2000-gallon tanker for Rs2,100 rupees, a 3000-gallon tanker for Rs2,800 and a 5,000-gallon tanker for Rs3,900. Since there is no monitoring of contractors while they are selling tankers on a commercial basis, many a times they bargain with customers and demand double the fixed price, which can increase even further in case the water crisis is severe. The Water Corporation has 3,500 registered tankers with QR codes and trackers to protect citizens from contaminated water," said an official of the Water Corporation, on the condition of anonymity.

Conversely, Jamaat-e-Islami leader and Nazim of a Union Council, Kaleem-ul-Haq Usmani confirmed that water was being sold in the black market in Karachi, with the patronage of the government. "Citizens have the right to Karachi's water. We will protest against Karachi's water mafia at every forum. By shutting off people's water supply, the government is giving water to the water tanker mafia, which is nothing but cruelty towards the citizens of Karachi," lambasted Usmani.

On a similar note, MQM-Pakistan leader Zahid Mansoori also expressed his sympathies for the people of Karachi, who in his opinion were longing for even a few drops of water. "Despite repeatedly informing the Water Board about the situation, arrangements are not being made to address the water shortage in the city. We will inform the Prime Minister about this situation and raise the issue of water shortage in the relevant forum," announced Mansoori, while talking to The Express Tribune.