Water crises: Old infrastructure, load-shedding, mafia lead to water shortage

Without immediate action, the city is to face severe water shortage over the next few months.

KARACHI:

An internal rift among the civic bodies, old infrastructure and inconsistent supply of water from the Hub Dam has led to the city facing a dire water crisis.

The spokesperson for Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), while talking to The Express Tribune, blamed the electricity utility. Most areas are deprived of water due to the negligence of the power utility, K-electric (KE), he said.

“KE began unannounced load-shedding at our main stations, including Dhabeji, Pipri and Gharo because of which, the KWSB is unable to continue smooth supply of water across the city,” the official said.



He also added that when the electricity is back up and running after power outages, the sudden power surge causes the water to start flowing back in high speed rather than pumping at its normal speed.

The old pumps in several areas that were not able to bear this pressure, collapsed, he added.

“If the power utility does not exclude the pumping stations from its load shedding, the water shortage will worsen even further in the next few days,” he informed.

Another reason for the shortage is that the KWSB receives only 40 to 50 million gallons of water per day instead of 100 mission gallons a day that it should be receiving. According to Qutubuddin Shaikh, the KWSB managing director, the Gijjo canal will be developed by the KWSB to alleviate the water crisis at hand. “We have to keep all pumping stations operational until the development of the new K-4 project.”

“Besides redevelopment of infrastructure of water supply, the K-4 project is also being carried out to fulfill the need of water in the city during the summertime.”

The deputy managing director of KWSB, Najmi Alam, pointed out another reason for the water shortage. “The illegal water connections and hydrants are also a major cause of shortage of water in the city and KWSB is conducting an operation against the water tanker mafia to try and put an end to it.”

The areas facing the worst shortage are Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Saddar, Muhammad Ali society, Karachi administration society area, Kashmir colony, Ranchore line, Usmanabad, Meethadar, Kharadar, Light house area, Pakistan Chowk and Burnes Road.

K-E denies allegations

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for K-Electric rejected the allegations of the KWSB while speaking to The Express Tribune. He said that all pumping stations of the KWSB are exempted from scheduled load-shedding.

“For the interest of the people of Karachi, we do not shut down electricity of pumping stations even for a single minute,” he insisted. “Any interruption taking place at the pumping station is due to poor infrastructure and internal wiring problems.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2014.