Embezzlement of funds: KWSB fails to repair damaged water, sewerage lines in City

Despite allocation of billions of rupees to improve sewerage infrastructure in the city, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) has failed to repair damaged water and sewerage pipelines due to alleged embezzlement of funds and incompetence of its chief engineers and other concerned officials. Due to choked sewerage lines, the sewerage water mix with clean drinking water.
The citizens are suffering because roads and streets of their areas are inundated by gushing sewerage due to damaged sewerage pipelines while officials of KWSB have turned deaf ear towards the plights of the people. Similarly, damaged water and sewerage system have compelled the long-suffering residents of Agra Taj Colony, Esa Nagri, Ibrahim Village, Custodian Quarter Welfare Colony, Kemari, Garden and other areas to live in pathetic conditions.
Sources said that most localities in the city were getting muddy and un-purified water due to shortage of chlorine at COD filtration plant, which supply 160 million gallons per day. Residents of most localities, however, said that since the water being supplied to them was muddy and also had an odor, they were reluctant to consume it for fear of contracting water-borne diseases.
The inhabitants have to buy water tanker of Rs 4000 for their household necessities because Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) is not supplying water to them. "I purchase a water tanker every week on exorbitant rates because area's pipelines are damaged but water utility is least bothered to get the pipelines repaired," a resident told this correspondent. He said that they had written several applications to the authorities concerned for the same but to no avail. Residents have complained that water tanker mafia supplies contaminated water at high prices. Not only it is unaffordable for the natives but also not fit for consumption.
Business Recorder learnt that hundred of diarrhea cases are being reported everyday due to non-provision of clean and safe drinking in the water scarce areas. On the other hand, streets of these areas are presenting pathetic look due to inefficiency of KMC's officials, as the corporation did not have any comprehensive plan to lift and dispose the garbage littered at every street of the areas. Managing Director KWSB Quttub-ud-Din could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.