HWSC unable to restore water supply, drainage system

The administration and officials of the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) have failed to restore the city's water supply and drainage system, due to incompetence. On one hand, drinking water has become scarce in most areas of the city, while some places are being supplied with dirty and foul-smelling water. Further, sewage water has inundated roads and streets in various parts of the city, increasing difficulties for citizens.

Despite the abundance of floodwater in the Indus River and sufficient water at the Kotri Barrage, many areas situated on the banks of the Indus River are facing a severe drinking water shortage. Various units of Latifabad, HDA Kohisar Housing Society Phase 1 and 2, Damane Kohisar, Mujahid Colony, Iqbal Colony, American Quarters, Hali Road and other areas are suffering from artificially created water shortages, leaving citizens at the mercy of water tanker mafias. Meanwhile, in some parts of the city, old and rusty pipelines remain unrepaired, resulting in the supply of dirty and foul-smelling drinking water.

Residents of Liaquat Colony have made videos of dirty water coming out of taps in their homes, posting them on social media on a daily basis. However, the HWSC administration remains indifferent. Meanwhile, residents of Ganjo Takkar and the Site Area have written a letter to the chief secretary of Sindh, mentioning that a modern filter plant was constructed at Ghaghra Mori in 2007 with the cooperation of the Ministry of Industries and SITE Limited. However, the plant has been closed for several years, was subsequently handed over to the now-defunct WASA, but has not been made functional, depriving locals of water for years and forcing them to buy from tanker mafias. Residents have requested action be taken against the officials of WASA and the HWSC, as well as the tanker mafia, to provide water supply to Ganjo Takkar.

Among these problems, sewage water has become a common sight on roads and streets in various areas of the city. In the busy Latifabad Unit No 12, sewage water has been accumulating on the main road and market for months, due to the failure to clean the stormwater and sewage drains. This has caused difficulties for businessmen and local residents alike, in regards to movement.

Reportedly, HWSC officials have also, once again, stopped supplying diesel to generators installed at pumping stations. Resultingly, during power outages, the pumping stations become inactive, and sewage water rapidly accumulates on the roads. A similar situation was witnessed on Friday near Khuda Hafiz Chowk in Latifabad, where sewage water accumulated on all sides of the chowk due to the pumping station being inoperational during a power outage. Locals had to create barriers using gravel and soil to divert the water and allow the Friday prayer congregation to take place. Pumping station staff claimed that during power outages, water often overflows onto roads because the generator remains shut down due to a lack of diesel. It is worth noting that during the recent rains, the lack of diesel for generators at pumping stations prevented the timely drainage of rainwater, resulting in financial losses for citizens and traders.

Meanwhile, it has been learned that the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation is not even sitting in his office, while the chairman and members of the board, who were hasty in appointing six high-ranking officials, remain silent on public complaints. Further, neither the government nor local leaders from various political parties, seem to be taking notice of the issues at hand.