88% Karachi water is hazardous; Chlorine as remedy

Even after the alarming revelation by Water Commission under Justice Iqbal Kalhoro, that the potable water being supplied to Karachi contain particles of human waste, the citizens are left with no choice. Water is must for living and life on earth, how can be left out of human' basic needs, services and utilizations.   

On the orders of Supreme Court, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) collected samples from throughout Sindh, including all the six districts of the city i.e. Karachi Central, East, West, South, Korangi and Malir. The samples were tested for a detailed physiochemical and bacterial analysis, besides their results were compared with the World Health Organisation and the National Environmental Quality Standards on safe drinking water. And, its findings are devastatingly hazardous and dangerous for Karachi, where 88% water has been found unfit for human consuption.

The Commission report not only clearly states water being supplied to the city without sense of responsibility but also tells that clean drinking water is not available across the mega city. That ignited a  sense of insecurity in the city and citizens are worry while using water.

It is advised therefore people of Karachi must drink or use water now with considerable care.  Even if you drink water out of bottles, it is still not safe to wash yourself or brush your teeth with contaminated water. It can cause skin rash and allergic reactions because of microscopic parasites.

To cater this serious problem, citizens start use chlorine tablets. Although, boiling of water specially for drinking is must -- universally recommended -- but before that use of chlorine in water storage tank can sizably lessen the contamination in water. If one cannot get chlorine , just use ordinary commercial bleach which contains approximately 5% chlorine. For calculating the volume of chlorine use, keep it in mind that for every 1000 gallons, add 12 table spoons (180 ml) of ordinary bleach you use to disinfect in house. And, how one can calculate tank storage gallons, it is by multiplying Length x Width x Height of your tank to get cubic feet. I Cubic feet = 7.5 US Gallons.

There is no doubt that the shortage and quality of water in the city has been worsened due to illegal water hydrants, water theft, illegal connections and untamed constructions of high-rises. But most of the water supplied to Karachi have not been treated as out of 420 MGD just 50 MGD treated at the Pipri plant, 100 MGD at the North-East Karachi K-2 filter plant and 80 MGD at the Hub filter plant, whereas four filter plants at Gharo, Bil, Pipri and North-East Karachi with a capacity of 200 MGD could not treat water due to lack of maintenance. While chlorination to COD and Hub filter plants has reportedly been long stopped and ever since long and germ-infested water is being given to the people of Karachi.

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Editorial, Infocus

What is to commemorate World Population Day in Karachi ?

Over Population leads to numerous socio economic problems but the most drastic one is the environment degradation and climate change, which demands an equilibrium between population and resources so the basic needs of humans like food, health and other social necessities on earth can be fulfilled.  According to the modern rules of economics, there is no yardstick of population in any state specially after the rise of China as politico-economic giant. Important is the government' check on population growth, so the resources and means are accordingly managed, and  services and amenities are adequately extended to people.   

 

The UN and affiliate countries commemorate World Population Day (July 11) to enhance awareness on population issues particularly related to family planning, gender inequality and women empowerment. However in Karachi city, the Population crisis has diverse outlooks and drastic consequences. The phenomenon of population growth here is in the shape of rapid and unchecked urbanisation which is affecting environment and development sector.

Some years ago international institution Economic Intelligence Unit did a survey of 22 megacities of Asia. A part from Karachi, the other cities were Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Banglore from India, Beijing, Shanghais, Taipei and Hong Kong from China, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka from Japan, besides Bangkok, Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Seoul were also included amongst the megacities. Thereafter the institution released the "Asian Green City Index" in which Karachi was declared the last in the list of "Environment Friendly" cities precisely because of poor air quality, inferior sewerage system and improper transport facilities.

Besides the other indicators that were cast in the Green City Index were energy consumption, emission of CO2, land use and high-rise, waste management, water accessibility and environmental governance in these 22 cities.  The report further insinuated the trend of urbanisation in the region and said that by 2026 half of the Asian population would become urbanised. The study said that Karachi being one of the world 'fastest growing metropolises ranks well-below average in the Index.

How and why Karachi reached to that level? The answer is given by another study that titles " Urbanisation, Gender & Violence in Millennial Karachi", and was conducted two years ago. The study termed the over population and unchecked urbanisation of Karachi as the mother of all evils which mainly leads the city to crimes and law and disorder. The study pointed out that in 1998 the population of Karachi was 9.8 million which went to 21.12 million in 2011 at a sizable rise of 115% and that drastically deteriorate the political economy and metropolitan government in the city. The displacements after the Afghan civil war and army operations in Waziristan, migration from rural Sindh and Punjab, flood affectees were all the main contributors of quick population growth in Karachi, and that changed out and out the social and demographic fabric of the city.

Their accommodation was an unresolved phenomenon and that further led to the growth of Katchi Abadies from 200 to more than 500 in a short span. Still, it is estimated that more than 60% of city population live without shelters. According to Study this insecurity generated lawlessness, weaponisation, ransom, extortion, gang war, street crimes and target killing in the city and in the due course the government played a role of facilitators of lawlessness rather controlling the law and disorder.   

Today, Karachi population is estimated at nearly 25 million, which may be doubled in 2050 if not checked. Experts says, thereafter administration and government in the city would become impossible for both provincial and federal government because this over-populated city is already facing the problems of traffic jam, shortage of water and electricity, poor sanitation and sewerage system, while still a sizable amount of people in the city are deprived of food, health and education facilities.  It is a high time on July 11, 2017 for state authorities to seriously think about Karachi before things get out of control.          

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Editorial, Infocus