bookreview
Karachi's politics of water supply
Conclusions from the author's research offer solutions to the long standing problem of water supply services in the city
By Kamal Siddiqi
Book:
Water Supply in Karachi - Issues and Prospects
Author:
Noman Ahmed
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Price: Rs250
If one has to understand Karachi, it is important to understand its politics of water. Water is a scarce commodity in Karachi, prone to great theft and pilferage in many parts of the city. The author of the book, Noman Ahmed, is an architect and planner by profession who has taught at both the Dawood College of Engineering and the NED University in Karachi. In this detailed study of how water is sourced, distributed and sold in Karachi, he tells us about localities where residents are happy with the supply and others where people insist that this is far from the case, illustrating the inequality of distribution.

As nations throughout the world mark World Water Day on March 22 (today), access to safe-drinking water in diffrent parts of Pakistan, such as the locality of Lyari remains a distant dream. By Aroosa Masroor

Thirteen-year-old Shazia* is faced with the same problem day after day. There are two water tanks in her school in Lyari, but both have run dry and all the taps have been stolen. Like most other students, she has no choice but to knock on the staff room door when she is thirsty. The teachers at the school - Genubai Giyalani Government Girls School, Lyari - are kind enough to have placed a water cooler for the students to drink from. But that one tap is insufficient to quench the thirst of over 2,000 students daily.

"The situation gets worse in summer," says Salma Sultan, a teacher at the school. "Since access to water remains a problem in homes in Lyari, most students do not bring a water-bottle with them." Water tanks were installed at the government school under a World Bank project, but officials at the school argue that they were a wrong decision, considering the entire town faces an acute water shortage.

"There is no water for chores at home," says another teacher, Farhat Naz, resident of Union Council (UC)-2 Darya Abad, Lyari Town. "How can one expect sufficient clean water in schools?"

Historically known as the "mother town" of Karachi, today Lyari is one of the most neglected localities of the city when it comes to the provision of basic facilities such as clean drinking water, a proper sewerage system, health centers, and sufficient educational institutions for a rising population.

According to the official census in 1998, the population of Lyari comprised only 607,992 people. Today, it stands at 1.4 million, claim both the Town Nazim Mehmood Hashim and activists in the area. The Baloch make up majority of this population, however people from various other ethnicities also reside in the town.

A little bit of water, all unfit to drink

"The growing water stress is the result of the rising population," says Sabiha Shah, President Lyari Community Development Project (LCDP). "There are five pumping stations for 11 UCs of the town, but due to leakages from pipes, the sewage water often mixes with drinking water making it unfit to drink." Like most parts in Karachi, the sewerage lines in Lyari are also placed above the water lines.

This results in an increased number of patients suffering from waterborne diseases such as dysentery and diarrhoea. A visit to Lyari General Hospital proves Shah's claim. Here, most of the patients Kolachi spoke to at the OPD were afflicted with stomach related ailments. "This is nothing. You should come back in June and July. The number of people double then," says a member of the paramedical staff.

Shah adds that shortage of water is not the only problem of Lyari. Both and improper distribution and a poor infrastructure have added to people's woes.

"The infrastructure is over 100 years old. The iron pipes are corroded and with the rise in population, the narrow pipes were not replaced with broader ones," admits Town Nazim Hashim. "We have addressed all these issues in the Lyari Development Package, for which funds have recently been released."

The list of proposed water works include the replacement of all iron water pipelines measuring four inches, six inches, and eight inches in diameter, with polyethylene pipes. Hashim calls it a long-term solution. "It will last for 100 years," he says.

According to a document officials at the Sindh Planning and Development Department shared with Kolachi, the replacements will begin from the most neglected households in UC-2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, followed by others. The total cost of 10 schemes for water lines amounts to Rs350.776 million, while the proposed 21 schemes for sewerage amount to Rs359.576 million.

The Lyari package is different from the Tameer-e-Karachi Program of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK). In 2007 under this programme, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) launched the K-III project laying down trunk lines worth Rs30 billion in Lyari. The move provided much-needed relief to the residents by facilitating them with an additional 6 MGD of water via a 33-inch bulk water line.

"Now that we have a source of bulk water supply, the groundwork for an inner water distribution system is underway with the help of funds from the Lyari Development Package. It should solve the water problems of the area within a few months," says Muhammad Arif, Chief Engineer Zone II-B KWSB, who has been assigned to supervise this task.

Failed promises, false hopes

But residents of UC-8, Rangiwara, are less hopeful that the situation of water supply will improve. "We are tired of the promises our elected representatives make," says Noorjehan Baloch, 70, a staunch worker of the Pakistan People's Party. "We keep hearing of these schemes when governments come into power, but the plan is never executed. They only come here to get votes. We never see their faces after the election."

Rangiwara, which is located at the tail end of the town, faces acute water shortage, leading to massive protests by women, who were the most affected. "Back in 2006, we had to walk long distances to fetch water," continues Baloch. "Even when there was a death in the area, we did not even have enough water for ghusl."

However, the women of the area finally managed to convince the then-Town Nazim to provide them with the resources to lay a water line. According to Hasan Ahmed, Baloch's husband, things are much better now, although he points out that it is largely down to their own efforts.

"Lyari has been neglected for so long because it comprises the poorest of the poor," he says. "Nobody listens to the poor, so they have to work on self-help basis."

Ahmed adds that the Marwari community of Hindus, who also live here (Hindu Para in UC 8), are worse off. There are approximately 5,000 Hindu registered voters in the area who have been living here since before partition, but to date have to travel from door to door to fetch water. "We mostly walk up to our neighbourhood locality, Rangiwara, to fill cans," says Tara Lal, a member of the Hindu community. She adds that she has written to the offices concerned of the UC and to the Town Nazim complaining about the situation of water supply, but has yet to hear from any government official.

Where men also fetch water

What is particularly interesting among the minority community in this low-income neighbourhood is the support offered by men. Since water tankers are unaffordable for the residents of Lyari, they are not to be seen anywhere. Instead, water is fetched in cans and transported on wheelbarrows. Aslam Masih, member of the Christian community, fetches water door to door, while his wife works. "We are both employed with the CDGK municipal service," says Masih. "My work shift starts at 10:00 a.m. and I return in the afternoon when my wife goes. We both take turns to get water, but I usually avoid sending her because of the law and order situation in Lyari."

This scarcity of water is also a source of livelihood for many. As a routine, one can see mashki walas behind their wheelbarrow looking for potential customers. They make the most money from residents living on the top storey of a building. "Normally, a one-litre can is sold to shopkeepers and other households for five rupees, but in the case of a building, the rate increases by five rupees per floor," says Abdul Razzak, General Secretary LCDP.

*Name of the student has been changed

Miracle water purification tablets

Lyari is a town riddled with problems. While its residents complain about contaminated water, the load-shedding of gas makes matters worse, rendering people unable to boil their water before using it. "Should we think about cooking first or boiling water?" questions Shaista Khuda Baksh, a housewife. "When we have no gas for hours, our priority is cooking."

It was precisely such an attitude among women that compelled the NGO SaafWater to launch the ultra-low cost water purification capsules 'Aquatabs' in Lyari. "Aquatabs disinfect water within 30 minutes without a hassle," says Samina Khan, Sales Manager of SaafWater when talking to Kolachi. The purification capsule, she adds, has been developed and tested by practitioners and researchers across the world.

In November 2007, the team launched its sales activity in Machhar Colony and educated residents of the colony about the importance of clean drinking water. They are now working to educate and convince Lyariites to adopt low-cost household chlorination methods to prevent them from waterborne diseases.

"After conducting a survey of water samples from different parts of the city, we came to the conclusion that Machhar Colony and Lyari were the worst affected areas where residents routinely receive contaminated water," says Khan.

The simple capsule of chlorine solution is being sold at the nominal rate of five rupees in three different coloured packages, depending on the quantity of water. A capsule in the green pack can be placed in a water cooler holding four to seven litres of water. A capsule in the black pack is meant for eight to 13 litres of water, while one in the red pack can treat 14 to 24 litres of water.

"After the capsule is put into the water, it takes about half an hour to sterilise it," explains Khan. "The water is then safe for drinking for the next 24 hours. After that, the water can be used for other purposes, but not for drinking."  

Some teachers and activists, however, told Kolachi that most women are reluctant to buy Aquatabs as they fear the tablets are being used to promote birth control among the Baloch women.

Sabina Khan, 27, student (resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar): "I receive water from KWSB pipelines, but it is insufficient for our family so we also avail the services of water tankers which cost us a lot."

Fouzia Junaid, 30, housewife (resident Gulshan-e-Iqbal): "I live in an apartment in 13 D-1 and we face severe shortage of water. Our source of water is the KWSB pipeline, but it is saline so we have to buy potable water for drinking and cooking purposes."

Wasif Ahmed, 32, salesman (resident of Malir): "We don't receive water through pipes so I have to buy water on regular basis for our household chores. The few times we do get water from KW and SB pipes, it is brackish."

Amjad Arif, 32, barber (resident of KDA): "I receive water through the KWSB water lines and it is sufficient."

Naseem Ahmed, 64, (Retd) Aviation Officer (resident of Federal B. Area): "We have dug a well at home for a constant flow of water. The KWSB water lines do not provide sufficient water for our family."

Noorie Farooq, 48, housewife (resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar): "We receive water directly from the KWSB water line, but it is brackish so we have to buy clean water for drinking."

Hameed Asif, 34, tailor (resident of Manzoor Colony): "I access water through a well as the KWSB connections have not reached our home yet."

Razia Jahangir, 50, Doctor (resident of PECHS): "We borrow water from our neighbours or relatives because the water from KWSB line is often contaminated. We receive sewage mixed water from the lines."

Rehman Malik, 49, Marketing manager (resident of Pehlwaan Goth): "My source of water is water tankers as there is no KWSB connection in our area."

Muhammad Noman, 23, Student (resident of Korangi): "We access water through the water lines of KWSB, but the sewage water is often mixed with potable water lines."

Shazia Babul, 25, housemaid (resident of Ziauddin colony): "There is a KWSB connection in our area, but we hardly receive any water through it, which is also contaminated. We then have no choice but to borrow water from the mosque, neighbours and relatives to fulfill our needs."

The active delta once spread over 600,000 hectars has been significantly reduced forcing farmers along the coast to turn to fishing. But changing professions has only brought more problems. Zofeen T. Ebrahim reports

Haji Yusuf, 80, spends sleepless nights. All his four sons have been arrested for fishing in 'enemy' waters, and he does not know what to do. Yusuf himself is too old to work, but has 35 mouths to feed.

It was not always like this for Yusuf, who lives in the village named after him on the island of Kharo Chhan, 150 kilometres from Karachi. He used to be a farmer, but sea intrusion along the coast of the Arabian Sea forced him and many others to turn to fishing. "It is an occupation that we landholders held below our dignity," he says.

The sea intrusion has devastated indigenous delta communities, with the salty water having turned once large swathes of fertile soil, barren. According to the Revenue Department, 86 per cent of the 235,485 acres of fertile land in Kharo Chhan has been swallowed by the sea, decreasing the population in the area from 15,000 to 5,000 in the last decade. Experts say that the active delta that was once spread over 600,000 hectares with creeks, mudflats and forests has been reduced to just 10 per cent of its original area, forcing farmers along the coast to turn to fishing.

"When the Indus River stopped flowing, there was no water to irrigate our land," says Abdullah Baloch, 56, who up until a decade ago, was a landlord with 250 acres of arable land to his name along with some 50 buffaloes and 80 goats. "Our pastures dried up and we had to sell our livestock. Many among us migrated to the cities. Those who stayed, turned to fishing."

But changing their profession has only brought more problems. According to Mohammad Ali Shah, who heads the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), 70 per cent of the fish stock has been depleted because of over-fishing and the granting of licenses to foreign trawlers, who fish all year round. Moreover, the decrease in the flow of river water to the sea has been destroying the mangrove where fish and shrimps spawned. Because mangroves are also natural barriers against cyclones, their destruction has made the people of the delta even more vulnerable. "The climate change is causing both temperatures and sea levels to rise," says Shah. "It had brought about a change in the continental shelf, leading to increased and unpredictable cyclones."

Shah explains that this change in temperature has pushed the fish further into the sea, which in turn has led to an increasing number of fishermen crossing internatinnal waters and mistakenly entering Indian territory.

With all his four sons were among the 17 fishermen recently arrested by Indian coastal authorities for fishing in their waters on January 15, it is a trial Yusuf knows all too well. All their boats, too, have been impounded. "We bought those boats on installments," laments Yusuf.

A small boat holding six to seven people costs between Rs300,000 and Rs400,000. A medium-sized one comes up to between Rs500,000 and Rs1 million, while a large-sized vessel, which can accommodate about 15 people, costs between Rs5 million to Rs7 million. Yusuf still has to pay Rs8 million for the lost boats, even though he believes that they will not return. He also believes that his sons were well within the Pakistani territory in Sir Creek when they were arrested. "Our fishermen have always fished in this water," he maintains.

Sir Creek is among 19 creeks in the Indus delta between Sindh in Pakistan and Gujarat in India, but even after 50 years, the issue of which country owns it remains unresolved. "The United Nations directed both countries to settle this issue by 2009 in accordance with the maritime boundaries, but I don't see anything happening any time soon," says Shah.

Abdul Ghani is in the same position Yusuf is. He three sons arrested were at the same time, and he does not know how he can continue feeding his family and pay for the boat at the same time. "I don't know how to pay off the loan of Rs1million when I have so many mouths to feed," he says. He, too, knows the boat worth Rs1.5 million is gone forever.

The exchange of fishermen was part of the many recommendations that became part of a Pakistan-India joint judicial committee on prisoners formed in 2007. "We have between 450 and 475 Indian fishermen, including eight juveniles, mainly from Gujarat and adjoining districts in our jails," says Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, one of the members of the committee.

A total of 4,516 Indian fishermen, with 729 boats, have been apprehended by Pakistan over the last 20 years, abcording to a 2008 study by the PFF. Shah adds that there are a total of 125 Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails, some of whom have been there for years. Mai Asi, for example, originally from Shah Bandar in Thatta, has had her sons missing for 16 years.

"The family is so poor that even after working in various homes as a maid, Asi cannot feed everyone," says Hajan Solangi of the PFF. "Many neighbours have to help her." Zahid points out that fishermen just follow the catch and cannot determine the demarcating line in the water. If their engine fails or if the tide is high, they may unwittingly cross the line, and are booked without being tried.

"As a goodwill gesture, Pakistan should release all detained Indian fishermen so that India can do the same," says Shah. "Apprehending these poor fishermen throws back the entire family deeper into the vortex of poverty and is one of the worst forms of human rights violations."

But even if the fishermen are released, the confiscated boats casts a shadow over what can be a happy ending to a sordid episode repeated by both governments. "The Indian delegate that had visited Pakistan had said that boats impounded by Pakistan had been auctioned off."

Both Shah and Zahid condemn the decision. Shah is adamant that the government has no right to do any such thing, while Shah says, "The auction should have been properly advertised and the owners informed."

Written under the aegis of the CSE Media Fellowship

Mustafa Mallah, a fisherman in his 40s, lives in a village on the bank of Manchhar Lake in the district of Jamshoro. He has been fishing for most of his life, but today, his wife and their six children are near starvation.

Mallah does not have to look far to place the blame. The fish he earns his livelihood from come from the Indus River, which in turn receives water from Manchhar Lake. The amount of water being discharged into the river, however, has been steadily decreasing, leaving Mallah and many others unable to fish.

"Many of the fishermen I know are denied a comfortable life just because the quality of water is poor," he says.

Manchhar Lake, located in the district of Jamshoro near the town of Sehwan Sharif, is one of the largest freshwater lakes of the country. Over time, however, so much of it has become polluted that it has become difficult to discharge an adequate amount of water into the Indus River, which is already suffering from low levels of water. The water from the lake is suspected to have caused more than 50 deaths, including infants, in 2004 in Hyderabad. Government statistics show that many others in surrounding districts have also succumbed to waterborne diseases. According to Dr Ahsan Siddiqui, a government-appointed water technologist in Sehwan Sharif who has conducted research in the area, the quality of water in the lake is not fit for human consumption. "Not only is it unfit for humans, other species living in the water are also dying because it is toxic," he informs Kolachi.

There is no clear cut answer for how the water of Manchhar Lake became so toxic. Previously, the Mian Nara Valley (MNV) drain was connected to the lake, providing it with a constant supply of fresh water from the mountainous regions of Dadu, but now the MNV drain has become contaminated with waste from waters in Balochistan and upper Sindh, putting the history and culture of Manchhar Lake, along with the lives of those who live close to it, at stake.

With the water levels of the lake rising, there have been fears that the embankments of Manchhar would soon be submerged. When the new local government in Hyderabad was sworn in, a plan was formed to prevent this from happening.  

After consulting with irrigation authorities, it was decided that water from Manchhar Lake would only be released according to the amount of water available in the Indus River. Those who use water directly from the lake, however, feel that by not releasing as much water into the river, the local government is acting solely in the interests of the residents of Hyderabad, who get their supply from the Indus.

"Authorities should first check the quality of water at Jamshoro," says Ali Khan, a resident. "The reports of the water expert cannot be trusted. He is our enemy. We drink toxic water from the lake, but we don't die. Why are only the citizens of Hyderabad being saved?"   

Many other fishermen in the area also doubt Dr Siddiqui's assessment. Mallah feels that the other residents of Hyderabad and adjoining districts receive poor quality of water from the Indus River, but like other fishermen, he believes that a decrease in water level of the lake would bring prosperity to the village.

But at the same time, Dr Siddiqui is adamant that the problems caused by the lake are not restricted to Hyderabad. "The issue is not just restricted to Hyderabad alone," he insists. "During tests at a medical camp recently organised here, we learnt that the children of these fishermen are vulnerable to all kind of diseases."

Dr Siddiqui stresses that the water needs to be cleaned urgently if the lives of all those who live close to, or even some distance away from, Manchar Lake are to be saved.

"I have not received a single drop of water for eight days now," complains Jagdish Kumar from his snack stall on Lasi Road in Hub. He is one of the many residents of Tehsil Hub who is suffering as a result of a water crisis in the area. Hub may be just a few miles away from the Hub Dam, one of the biggest sources of drinking water in the country, but that has not prevented all seven union councils of the area from facing a severe shortage of water.

It is not difficult to see why. Through the Hub Canal, Balochistan gets just one third of the water, with the rest being supplied to industries in Karachi. The Irrigation Department gets water from the Hub Canal and supplies it to the reservoirs of Public Health and Engineering, which then distributes the water to the residential areas of Hub. Combined, the residential and industrial areas in Hub require at least 160 cusec of water, but receive only 109 cusec. In addition, before the shortened supply can reach residents, a large portion of it is stolen by a powerful tanker mafia running a multi-million rupee business. At Hub Chowki, one can easily observe up to 50 water tankers at a time queuing up near Daroo Hotel. In plain view are dozens of electric motors the tankers use to suck water out of its source, which is then routed to industries in S.I.T.E. in Karachi.  

"We have complained to the police several times, but to no avail," says Asif Javed, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department. "When they do try to take action, they face serious resistance." The trend of tankers stealing water from the Hub Canal began in 1992. At the time, just a couple of tankers would steal water from a bridge passing over the Hub Canal. According to Javed, the Irrigation Department had complained to the police, but no action was taken. "The tankers gradually grew in number, and now there are hundreds of them," says Javed.

With water being wasted and the department's structure being damaged, the then Chief Engineer Irrigation Department decided to take advantage of the situation by charging the tankers for using the government's utility.  

"Initially, a tender of Rs300,000 a year was passed to allow the tankers to continue taking water," explains Javed. "As the consumption of the water increased, the tariff went up to Rs600,000, then Rs1.2 million and finally Rs1.5 million."

All this, however, came to a stop in 2008 when a new Chief Engineer took charge – a move resisted by the tanker mafia. Javed, however, credits the change for having curbed water theft by a great deal.  "But since the canal is 21 miles long, there are many places they can steal water from," he adds. "Still, we have increased our vigilance and caught them as late as 3:00 a.m."

A recent visit to the area by Aslam Botani, Speaker Balochistan Assembly, prompted residents to launch a series of complaints against water theft. However, when Botani called for action, the tanker mafia went on strike for four days, stopping the supply of water to industries in order to put pressure on the government.

"Part of their demands was a separate hydrant. Botani allowed them to continue to take water for a month while the government arranged for their needs," says Javed. But after the passage of four months, nothing has been done, even though a rapid population growth over the past decade, along with a rising number of industries, has placed greater strain on the water supply. The demand for water has gone up, but the Irrigation Department has not been able to facilitate the residents. Nor has it been able to prevent the tanker mafia from stealing water.

To make the situation worse, the Hub Canal, through which residents receive their water, has been closed for regular cleaning for nearly 12 days now. "The canal is closed three to four times a year for two weeks, which tests everyone's patience," explains Muhammad Usman Koh Baloch, Nazim of Union Council Berut. "The canal can continue to supply water for two days after being closed, but after two weeks, we have a crisis."

Water shortage is not the only problem. Many residents have resorted to consuming water from wells, which has caused widespread health hazards in the area. "Children in almost every household often come down with diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and other abdominal diseases," reveals Nand Lal, a resident of Mehmoodabad.

As the demand for water continues to rise in the area with authorities being unable to meet the supply, it looks as though the water crisis in the area will prevail for now.

Book:

Water Supply in Karachi - Issues and Prospects

Author:

Noman Ahmed

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Price: Rs250

If one has to understand Karachi, it is important to understand its politics of water. Water is a scarce commodity in Karachi, prone to great theft and pilferage in many parts of the city. The author of the book, Noman Ahmed, is an architect and planner by profession who has taught at both the Dawood College of Engineering and the NED University in Karachi. In this detailed study of how water is sourced, distributed and sold in Karachi, he tells us about localities where residents are happy with the supply and others where people insist that this is far from the case, illustrating the inequality of distribution.

Ahmed says that as the number of people living in "water stressed" countries rises, water supply is an issue that is acquiring frontline importance. In his book, he has discussed all the isstes related to Karachi's water supply system through informative case studies. One case study, for example, looks into the water requirements of an average Karachi family residing in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and how it copes with rising demand and dwindling supply, while another case study deals with the retail beneficiaries of bulk water consumers. The book explains how water is used in the city and the problems that lie with the faulty system of distribution. What is worrisome is that while the rise in demand for water will put pressure on existing water supply systems, rarely have provisions been made for such a demand in our housing localities.

The most interesting part of the book is where Ahmed discusses Awami tanks that have been installed in various parts of the city, eventually becoming an important chain in the water supply system. In instances where residents or consumers have banded together to build their own tanks, the idea has been successful, but whenever the government has taken a similar initiative, such tanks have usually been disowned.

This book is a first stop for anyone researching or writing on water related issues. It gives a basic overview of the water supply system in Karachi, explaining how water is disposed and all the issues related to it. A good reference manual for many.