20000331

Many Karachi areas

still facing

water shortage

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Acute water shortage in districts West and Central and partial shortage in other districts continued for the eighth consecutive day on Thursday as the water distribution staff of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board kept itself busy in sorting out its internal bickering or jockeying for choice postings and transfers instead of redressing the grievances of people.

KWSB sources said Managing Director Brig. Mohammad Behram Khan, who had proceeded on leave earlier, had applied for extension of leave to avoid "dirty politics of the officers."

They said Brig. Behram soon after taking over as MD of the KWSB had instructed officials to improve their public image by maintaining a distance form the "water tanker mafia" and contractors of ill repute.

He had told his subordinate staff to remain in touch with the people and redress their grievances or face transfers.

Those officers who were identified by Brig. Behram for transfers to "less lucrative desks" have now abandoned their official functions and hovering around offices in the New Sindh Secretariat for better postings lest Brig. Behram returns from leave.

It was under the instructions of Brig. Behram that a complaint centre was established/strengthened and people were advised to register their complaints with the centre.

There were standing instructions to receive complaints and allot a number to each complaint for follow-up purposes. This is not being done nowadays. After Brig. Behram proceeded on leave, the complaint centre set up at the KWSB head office also ceased to entertain complaints on one pretext or the other.

A senior official of the finance department of the KWSB said, "Water supply to deficient areas by tanker service of the KWSB is in the control of lower staff who show little respect to complainants."

The complaint centre staff said on Thursday that they were now under the control of the officiating managing director who had instructed them to use their discretion before registering a complaint.

Sources said the complaint centre staff avoided registration of complaints as it disturb their "other arrangement."

KWSB technical staff said the water shortage was mainly due to the faulty distribution system. "There is no water shortage but the system of water distribution is in the hands of staff not amenable to discipline."

Water shortage has been reported from North Karachi, Buffer Zone, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad Blocks, I, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, part of Rizvia Society, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Mujahid Colony, part of Orangi Township, Baldia Township, Sher Shah, Old Golimar, Soldier Bazar, Garden East and West, Parsi Colony, Kharadar, Metha Dar, Bolton Market, parts of Keamari area, Clifton all blocks, and parts of Korangi area in district South.