Different areas of the city on Sunday faced acute water shortage, as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) failed to repair its water supply pipeline, which ruptured two days ago in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The citizens will face storage of some 60 million gallons water for the next two to three days as the water utility said it would replace the outdated pipeline instead of repairing it.
"It would take some 24 to 36 more hours to replace the damaged pipe," said a spokesman of KW&SB in a statement. Managing Director (MD) Water Board Misbahuddin Fareed has urged citizens to use water carefully.
The water supply line measuring 84 inches in diameter burst near Aziz Bhatti Park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal at around 3:00 pm on Saturday turning the adjoining area roads into river creating difficulties in smooth flow of traffic.
The board officials claimed that they would repair the damaged water pipe line within the next 24 hours; however they could not do so as large volume of water was still flushing out of the broken pipeline till filing of this report.
Due to chocked sewerage lines, the whole water of damaged pipe flooded on to main roads in the vicinity that continued to disturb the commuters on the 2nd consecutive day. Workers of the city administration along with machinery and pumps were seen making efforts to drain out the water submerged on the arteries. KW&SB officials claimed to have removed some 90 percent of the water till Sunday night.
According to sources, water supply to metropolis got affected by over 20 million gallons after the pipeline rupture. They feared that residents would brace water shortage of over 70 million gallons as the utility may take three to four days or even more time in replacement of the pipeline due to 'slow' efforts.
The 'out-dated' pipeline was laid down as part of the Greater Karachi Water Scheme some 57 years back, and the pipe was manufactured in KDA pipe factory. A slight leakage was witnessed in the line some days back. The repair work was underway when it ruptured, KW&SB press release said.
Water supply to the damaged pipeline has been disconnected from the Dhabeji station; however the replacement work was yet to be started due to intense pressure of water that left inside the line. Alternate machinery and pipe have been brought to the site. The replacement work would be initiated soon after the water supply is completely disconnected.
Efforts were being made by the teams of KWSB and other concerned departments including Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The areas which largely affected by water shortages included District West, Central and East, while residents of Old Clifton, Defence, Jamshed Quarters, Sher Shah, Pak Colony, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Korangi and Liyar have already been directed by the water board to use the water carefully as long as the pipeline is not restored.
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