NAWABSHAH, Jan 26: The city his facing a serious scarcity of water for about a week. There is a shortage of water in Manuabad, Essarpura, Mehran Colony, Bhangwar colony, Ghulam Rasool Shah colony, Gharibabad and Mohini Bazaar.

Gujrah Wah, which is the main source of water supply of 50,000 gallon per day to the city, was closed on January 5 for annual maintenance.

The taluka municipal administration was to make alternate arrangement by filling water tanks prior to the closure of the Gujrah Wah but it was not done.

Residents of Manuabad, Camp-2, Kamora colony and Mehran colony said that they were receiving water in line for 5-10 minutes daily. They said the water was dirty and it could not be used for drinking or cooking.

They said that the water was hazardous for human consumption and they were forced to drink underground salty water.

They demanded that district and taluka nazims should look into the matter.

TMO Atta Mohammad Channo said that shortage of water was due to closure of the Gujrah Wah and that water was being supplied on different timings to meet the shortage.

He said that foul smell was due to illegal connections of water supply which was being handled by the TMA and problem would be resolved soon.

BALOCHISTAN ISSUE: Former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said that Balochistan issue could be resolved through dialogue and added that although he belonged to Balochistan but was not aware of the actual problem in Dera Bugti and Kohlu as he had visited the area last year to offer condolence on the death of Mir Ahmed Nawaz Khan Bugti.

Talking to newsmen at the residence of Raees Karam Ali Jamali near Nawabshah on Wednesday, he said that the government was claiming that action was being taken against ‘terrorists’ while opposition was terming it an army operation.

He said that he could only play a role for the solution of Balochistan issue if President Gen Musharraf would ask him to do so, as he was the decision maker and had taken many such decisions earlier.

He said that the two committees were constituted on his suggestion at a PML meeting. These committees were formed under Mushahid Hussain and Waseem Sajjad respectively.