Daily Times

Water being supplied to Karachi falls half of its quota to around 332 million gallon of water per day (mgd), officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) have revealed before Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani.

During Minister’s visit to Gujjo head works, Dhabeji, Pipri, Chilia district Thatta and site of K-IV water project; KWSB officials briefed minister that due to wastage of water on pipelines’ leakages and water theft from open canals at different spots, meeting the required supply quantity to Karachi remained a challenge for Board.

The water board officials informed minister that 17 Kilometer long canal from Chilia to Gujjo was under repair process at different points and additionally, removal of silt and lining work has also been started.

They also said that 100 mgd shortfall in water supply from Hub Canal was another bottleneck in way of adequate supply of water to parts of Karachi. KWSB officials informed that after installation of a new pumping station at Dhabeji, water supply to Karachi would improve within eight months.

They said that work has been undertaken on Haliji conduit and canal and after some period, 65 mgd additional water supply to Karachi could be ensured. Work on 260 mgd K-IV project would be completed by end of 2021 which would lessen the shortage of water to Karachi to a great extent, officials hoped.

Given the water board officials revealing water issue, little was the visible improvement in water supply in Karachi. On the other hand, they were of the view that after completion of different water schemes, water shortage could be controlled on greater extent. While expressing his displeasure over short supply of 100 mgd water from Khanjir Lake, Saeed Ghani asked KWSB officials to seek support from different departments in order to ensure smooth supply of water to Karachi.

Water Commission on water and sanitation, mandated by Supreme Court remained unsuccessful to implement its orders on water and sanitation authority in Karachi. On several occasions, Commission directed concerned departments and heads of Karachi civil administration to improve water distribution system. But on the contrary, KWSB and civil administration showed little interest in making efforts for improving water supply to city.

Acting Managing Director KWSB Asadullah Khan in a report to Water Commission informed that from NEK pumping station K-II, 40 mgd of water; from NEK pumping station K-II, 17 mgd water supply; from NEK pumping station K-III through 66′ diameter line, 4 mgd water; from NEK pumping station K-III through 84′ dia meter line and from COD filter plant, total water supply was 86 mgd. The fact that as per census of 2017, population of district central stands 4.6 million, while requirement of water stands 230 mgd, highlights a shortfall of 144 mgd per day, that has made the lives of the people miserable. Around 64 percent water supply to district central is on gravity level while remaining is maintained through pumping stations. Gravity areas include Liaquatabad, Rizvia, Firdous Colony, Nazimabad I, Gujjar Nullah, Sindhi Hotel, Sharfabad, Bhandhani Colony and Gharibabad in central district.

There are 22 pumping stations in district central namely C-Road pumping station, Nazimabad, Aurangabad, Board Office, Ajmair Nagri, 5C-IV, Saba Cinema, Nagan Chowrangi, Sindhi Hotel, 7C-7D, Sakhi Hassan, Al Hameen, BS-II Star-V, BS-I, Pahar gunj, Ship Owner College, Paposh Tanks, Moosa Nagar and Block-C water pumping stations.

Similarly other five districts were also facing shortfall in water supply and district west is the worst among these as it was getting 56 mgd out than the required 220 mgd, Acting MD KWSB informed further. Water supply to district west is also maintained through central water distribution system. These areas include: Orangi Town, Baldia, Pak Colony, Qasba and some parts of SITE area.

Meanwhile, Chairman DMC Central Rehan Hashmi in a meeting with residents of district, representatives of Sindh and National Assembly and officials of water board, discussed water issue in the district. Complaints were lodged while residents showed concern on acute water shortage in their respective areas. They also lodged complaints with Karachi Water Board authority and alleged valve-men of district to be involved in diverting supply of water towards other areas by taking money and selling water to tanker mafia.

Published in Daily Times, January 10^th 2019.