Key Takeaways
- Residents in Clifton and Defence face water shortages due to delayed tanker services.
- A Rs14 billion project aims to lay a new waterline from Dumlottee to DHA.
- CBC officials attribute delays to water shortage and suggest using KWSB tankers.
Residents in Clifton and Defence, Karachi, are experiencing difficulties in obtaining water from official tankers due to delays in service. The Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) has been struggling with an acute shortage of water, leading to a backlog in tanker supplies.
At a recent meeting between the CBC and the Clifton Defence Community (CDC), residents raised concerns about the lack of water despite having received tokens. CBC Secretary Sajjad Nazir acknowledged the delays and assured that those with tokens were given priority access on the same day.
The residents suggested that Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSB) tankers be used to alleviate the backlog, as they are less expensive and can be booked in advance. CBC officials agreed to consider this suggestion.
The meeting also discussed a proposed Rs14 billion project to lay a new waterline from Dumlottee to DHA, which is expected to be completed in a year. The pipeline will carry unfiltered water from Dumlottee, which will then be purified through filtration plants before being supplied to residents.
CDC President Abdur Rehman highlighted the need to improve the existing water distribution system and suggested installing water meters to ensure efficient supply based on consumption. He also emphasized the importance of addressing unnecessary lines and ineffective valve management.
CBC officials denied any private tankers filling water from CBC hydrants and encouraged residents to report such incidents. They stated that if any such activity is observed, residents should take pictures and send them to the CBC officials for investigation.
The residents also expressed concerns over the current water shortage and the delays in tanker services. CBC Chief Cantonment Engineer Abdul Rahim Shaikh explained that the shortage is causing the tanker supply to be two to three months behind schedule.
In response to the residents' complaints, CBC Secretary Nazir assured that the backlog would be addressed and that priority would be given to those with valid tokens. He also mentioned that the new waterline project will help in the long term by providing a more reliable water supply system.
The residents' suggestions and the CBC's response indicate a collaborative effort to address the water shortage and improve the overall water supply system in Clifton and Defence.
We facilitated those [residents] at the meeting who showed us their tokens [for water tankers] on a priority basis the very same day.
CBC Secretary Sajjad Nazir, CBC Secretary
