As a Karachiite, I have a major concern over the problems that are lingering over my city. According to the media reports, KWSB blames KE for its cessation in water supply and the reason given is power breakdown. Whereas KE is of the opinion that water board does not rectify their pumping machinery or equipment that affected the water supply to parts of the city. If this was not enough illegal water hydrants have taken a toll on Karachiite’s plight by charging them at exorbitant prices that ranges from Rs3,000 to 5,000. It has been observed that illegal hydrants come into effective only at a time when water board fails to provide water to the residents of the city.
However, the war of words by both utility companies is only creating confusion among their consumers and irrespective of who is right or who is wrong, their only concern is to have an uninterrupted supply of water and electricity so that they can have a comfortable living. On one hand, I agree with the point that KE should not prolong its load shedding time over pumping stations. On the other, I completely fail to understand that how come the short duration of power breakdown at pumping stations can result in losing gallons of water that leads to water scarcity? Given any situation like power failure, is there no back-up plan designed by water board to restore the pumping services in short time?
I would like to request both organisations to stop their blame game and sort out their problems rapidly because in this tug-of-war, only the residents have bear the brunt of its consequence.
MADIHA AKHTAR
Karachi