As summer approaches, the gap between supply and demand of water in Karachi increases significantly. Currently, Karachi gets around 650million gallon daily (mgd). The demand, however, is almost doubled.
The difference means that people are bound to face water shortage but water woes for residents of densely populated Korangi and Landhi areas have increased drastically. Karachi Water and Sewage Board’s (KWSB) decision to increase quota of water supplied to Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) controlled DHA and other adjoining areas.Water supplied to CBC areas was increased from 4mgd to 4.6mgd. As the city is already water-scarce, the KWSB had no option but to divert the water supply from one locality to feed more water to DHA and adjoining areas. In this case, it happened to be Korangi and Landhi that had to suffer.The KWSB claimed that they supply 5mgd water daily to Korangi and Landhi areas but it doesn’t seem to be enough the quench the thirst.
Landhi and Korangi residents claim that the water supply has been suspended for almost a month.Women of the area told media that KWSB used to supply water twice a week. For a month, not a single drop of water has come from the lines.They said that they had visited the KWSB Area Executive Engineer (water) XEN office multiple times but no one paid heed to their requests. “It is very difficult to survive without water during holy month of Ramazan plus its summer season,” they added. The women said they are not in the position to pay for water tankers. Private contractors charge Rs2000 to Rs2500 for 1000mgd tanker.
It is impossible for us to arrange water tankers frequently, the residents said. KWSB is not providing the basic facility of water either through water lines or tankers, the added.
Residents said that the Sindh government, KWSB and elected representative from the area are doing nothing to resolve the water crisis in Korangi and Landhi. Muttahadi Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan is the MNA from the area.
People say that the elected representatives have never visited the constituency after winning the elections. “We visited the MNA and MPA’s offices several times to get our water issue resolved but they were not even ready to listen,” they added.
