Water shortage in Karachi to be met through tankers: CM Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed deputy commissioners of different districts of the city to file their demand of water requirement with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) so the authority could make arrangements for water tankers to address the issue.

He issued these directives today while presiding over a high-level meeting of the finance department to devise water management plan for the areas facing water shortage.

The CM also directed the KWSB to ensure supply to the areas facing water shortage, particularly District West where at least one million gallon additional water is required.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, while briefing the chief minister, said that the main source to provide water to Karachi are Kenjhar Lake (River Indus) and Hub Dam from where water is pumped through three main bulk pumping stations located at Dhabeji Pumping Station, Gharo and Hub. He added that 550 mgd water is supplied from the Indus while 100 mgd from Hub.

Mr Shoro said that population of the city was 17 million and maximum water demand comes to 918 mgd. The industrial demand for water comes to 126 mgd. MD Water board Khalid Shaikh said that the present water supply from Indus stands at 450 mgd and 30 mgd from Hub. He pointed out that the supply was 480 mgd and demand stands at 918 mgd.

The chief minister said there were reports of water shortage in Orangi Town, Baldia, SITE, Gadap and partially Nazimabad of District West. At this the MD water board said that these areas depend on Hub Dam which has depleted to only 30 mgd instead of 115 mgd.

Deputy Commissioner South Asif Jameel told the meeting that two RO plants, one operating at Lyari – Ahmed Shah area and other one at Civil Line-Shireen Jinnah area. He said that these both the plants have stopped working due to disconnection of their power supply. On this the chief minister expressed displeasure and directed MD water board to get them operational by tomorrow. “I want you to clear their power bills and make them operational and send the report by Monday evening,” he directed the water board chief.

The DC West said that there were only 257 water tanks in the West. The chief minister issued directives to establish 100 more fiber tanks so that one million gallons water could easily be provided there.

The chief minister also directed all the deputy commissioners of various districts of the city to file their demand of water requirement with water board so that it could make arrangements of the tankers accordingly. He also directed the deputy commissioners to set up more water tanks in their respective area, if required, to address the acute shortage of water.