KARACHI: Deputy commissioners in Karachi have been directed by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to submit their water requirement demands with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) in order to address the water issue with tankers.
The KWSB has also been ordered to provide supplies to areas facing water shortage, especially District West which is particularly short on water supplies.
Kanjhar Lake and Hub Dam are the main sources of water for the city, said Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro at a high-level meeting chaired by the CM to discuss the water crisis.
With a population of 17 million, the maximum demand for water stands at 918 mgd while the industrial demand stands at 126 mgd. In terms of supply, MD Water board Khalid Shaikh said that supply from the Indus river is 450 mgd and 30 mgd from Hub. Against a total demand of 918 mgd, the supply is well short at 480 mgd.
Two RO plants, one at Civil Line-Shireen Jinnah and the other at Lyari are currently inoperable due to a lack of electricity supplies, said Deputy Commissioner South Asif Jameel. This is preventing sufficient water to reach areas in Karachi, he added.
“I want you to clear their power bills and make them operational and send the report by Monday evening,” said the CM in response.
Murad Ali Shah also ordered the establishment of another 100 water tankers to provide a million gallons of water to District West.
Other commisioners have also been ordered by the CM to manage the water problems as soon as possible.