HYDERABAD, June 3: A large number of people blocked railway tracks near Hyderabad railway station on Tuesday to protest against severe water scarcity in their area.

The protest delayed the journey of Karachi-bound Allama Iqbal Express for about two hours that was coming from Lahore.

The protesters were carrying empty pitchers and other kitchen utensils. They came out of their houses to draw attention of authorities of the Hyderabad Development Authority and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) that their area is not getting water supply.

They also burnt tyres. The protesters were raising slogans against the Hesco for loadshedding. They said that they had been informing authorities about the non-supply of water but the authorities remained unmoved.

The Supervising Police Officer (SPO) of Site, Irfan Mukhtar Bhutto, rushed to the spot to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade and let the train go but they remained undeterred. He subsequently informed authorities about protesters’ demand.

The protesters were residents of Al-Shahbaz Colony and American quarters — the localities located close to the railway tracks — and they resort to such steps whenever there was a civic problem in their area.

The protesters said in these summer days they neither had water nor electricity.The protesters, however, ended their protest after the Wasa authorities assured them that their area would be supplied water tonight after consulting Hesco authorities.

The people were informed that in fact Hesco’s load management schedule had affected the supply of water.

A meeting was later held in the office of Director General of HDA which was attended by executive engineers of Hesco, managing director Wasa Bashir Awan.

The Wasa MD informed the meeting that whenever water supply was to commence for this area from Pucca Qilla water reservoir, non-supply of electricity disrupted it.

It was decided that water supply would be ensured between 10pm to 11pm and Hesco officials would also be present at the water reservoir. The MD also spoke to the superintending engineer circle-I of Hesco.

He said that Wasa was not failing in ensuring water supply and it’s the failure of Hesco regarding the power supply.

Hesco is implementing a six to eight hours load-management plan in 24 hours. According to this plan, electricity goes off in different areas of the city for six to eight hours.

Under the plan after four hours of power supply, the electricity’s supply is suspended in some areas while in some areas one hour power suspension takes place after supply of every two hours of electricity.

Hesco spokesman told Dawn that it had been decided with HDA officers that six feeders of Hesco would make changes in load-management as per requirement of Wasa authorities.

He said a two-hour plan had been finalised regarding the supply and non-supply of electricity in consultation with the HDA.