Alternate water supply arrangements in peri-urban localities: awami (people’s) tanks in Orangi township, Karachi

Municipal water supply in Karachi has become grossly inadequate with reference to the user’sneeds and expectations. As a consequence of this inadequacy, communities suffer from the poorlevel of service. Peri urban locations, especially low-income settlements have very limited accessto municipal water supply. Communities in these locations have to evolve alternate arrangementsfor acquiring the minimum quantities of water for human survival. In some situations, publicsector agencies extend support in service delivery. Benefits of such support are appropriatelyavailed when the community members organise themselves and subsequently develop workingrelationships with the concerned service providers. Awami tanks represent an example wherewater supply service was developed as a cooperative arrangement, partnership, betweeninformally developed community organizations and public sector agencies.This paper reviews the performance of awami tanks and explores the evolving partnershipsbetween service providers, recipients of the service and other related stakeholders. Findings andanalysis in this paper are based on documentation of 20 awami tanks in different locations inOrangi including Ghaziabad, Gulshan-e-Zia, Mansoor Nagar, Gulshan-e-Bihar and RaeesAmrohi Colony. Structured feedback is obtained from concerned stakeholders such as tankeroperators and owners, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) staff, Rangers personnel andmunicipal representatives. In addition, focused group meetings were held with tanker operatorsand area residents. Interviews were held with KWSB staff, Rangers1, elected councillors andpolitical activists all of whom shared their views under the condition of anonymity. The findingsof this paper reveal the evolution, development, operation and management of awami tanks.Analysis is done and conclusions drawn to assess the possibilities of sustainability andexpansion of awami tank network.