Daily Times

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board has started supplying additional 70 million gallon of water per day (MGD) to district west areas, under a water supply contingency plan.

As many as 109 other areas of the city will also get water under a rescheduled plan. Water supply to these areas has been designed on alternate rotation programme.

The additional 70 mgd water will be supplied to district west areas through 1,000 tankers that will run on a daily basis. These areas include: Baldia Town, Orangi Town, Manghopir, Qasba, Banaras, Pathan Colony and Metroville.

Due to reduced supply from Hub and declining water levels at Dhabeji Pumping Station, water supply to the conduit system has been declining with time, KWSB officials say. A shortage of 300 mgd will be met by tapping other resources in an equitable distribution method, officials say.

Talking to Daily Times, Zafar Ali Paleejo, the superintending engineer of the WTM circle, said that on directive of the managing director, water supply through tankers was under consideration for these areas as well.

The plan has been submitted to the Water Commission and the provincial government as these authorities have directed the board to ensure equitable supply of water to all parts of the city.

Paleejo said that all efforts were being taken to make the arrangement foolproof.

Palejo added, “We have gathered details from six superintending engineers and 36 executive engineers in all six districts to maintain drinking water supply during summer.”

The entity will also inform citizens about arrangements through print and electronic media, Palejo said.

He said frequent power fluctuations and disruption at Dhabeji Pumping Station and around 50 percent less supply of water from Hub Dam (from 100 MGD to 51 MGD) were major causes of water shortage.

The board will also revisit the system of water supply in the city, besides keeping an eye on areas facing water crisis, he said.

There is an anticipated shortfall of 600 mgd (2,700 ml/day) of water. Due to pilferage of water conduits, besides on account of non-revenue water consumption, water supply through KWSB system has been facing around 35 percent loss on a daily basis.

The supply from Indus and Hub is approximately 650 mgd (2,925 ml/day).

“We will try our best to keep a vigilant eye for smooth supply of water to all areas in Karachi, meanwhile, we are taking corrective measures to prevent water theft.”

Under the plan, the parts of the city likely to be affected include SIUT, Civil Hospital, Saddar, Ranchore Line, Usmanabad, Methadar, Kharadar, Light House, Pakistan Chowk, Burns Road, Keamari, Docks Yard, Clifton Main, Bizerta Pump and Colony, Sultanabad, Shiran Jinnah Colony and its adjoining areas, KPT, Surjani and Lyari Town, Gulistan-e-Johar, Scheme 33, University, Gulberg Town, industrial areas, Block, 6,8,9,10, 10-A, 11, 12, 13, 13-A, 13-B, 13-C. However, these areas will get water under alternative arrangements.

Published in Daily Times, April 21^st 2018.