Water crisis, in terms of shortage and contamination, is
persistent and colossal throughout Karachi, irrespective of posh or
under-privileged localities. The world' 7th biggest city with more than 20
million inhabitants, Karachi requires 1100 million gallons daily (MGD) but it
is an irony that insufficient system and inefficient management is only able to
supply half of this quantity on paper, while even lesser than of half in
practice.
Water is essential to life on earth and it is a lifeline to
human beings that bathes and feeds them. Around the globe serious crisis of
shortage and scarcity of water resources has been forecast in future, but for
the citizens of Karachi that crisis is already in their routines. There is a
serious shortage of potable water in the city as the distribution system has
failed to deliver water to all the dwellers.
Karachi' foremost source of water supply is Keenjhar lake
providing 583 million gallon water per day. Besides, the Hub canal brings 90
MGD to the city from Hub river dam. But in the way farmers, land grabbers, fish
farm owners and specially the tanker mafia steal the water from the canals,
that accounts for 25% pilferage in supply to the megacity. Besides this
pilferage the other factor behind the water shortage is poor maintenance of
pumping stations and worn out distribution lines. However, what has turned this
shortage into scarcity is the nexus between water authorities and tanker mafia,
which keeps creating cosmetic crisis in an already shortfall supply at one hand
and sell water through tankers to the residents at exorbitant prices on the
other hand.
As an example a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed
between Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Karachi Water and Sewage Board
(KWSB) to supply 9 MGD water daily to the DHA, the biggest and most affluent
society of Pakistan having 70 to 80 thousand homes. But inappropriate supply on
behalf of KWSB and irregularities on behalf of DHA compel the residents to rely
on tanker mafia for their foremost basic necessity of life. Despite the fact,
the Clifton Cantonment Board is one of the best clients of the KWSB for paying
its water charges, the supply is still inconsistent and inadequate, which
forces their residents to spend upto Rs. 30,000 to 50,000 monthly to purchase
water from tankers. If the supply from
KWSB gets normal and regular there will be no problem of water and no need of
tankers at least in DHA.
Plundering of Tanker Mafia
Presently Karachites rely on tanker mafia for supply of
water at large. They get water from hydrants and supply to houses on their own
rates. The mechanism of these hydrants is run through officers-in-charge of KWSB'
hydrant Operations under a Standard Operating Procedure SOP August 25, 2009.
The KWSB claims that there are 24 legal
hydrants in the city who serve 20% area of the city. However there are reportedly
hundreds of illegal hydrants and other filling points who siphon off the water
from the main supply. As reported, over 10 MGD water is stolen per day from the
system but independent sources doubt this figure and claim the maneuvering in
water distribution and other ways of water theft is even enormous and still
unchecked in the city.
(To be continued)
By
Najeeb Wali
Member, Infocus
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