ISLAMABAD: As the residents are already worried about irregular supply of water in the federal capital, the situation is going to get worse in days to come with hot summer days approaching swiftly.
The issue is a decade old now but unfortunately the Capital Development Authority (CDA) could not come up with a solid plan and only solution to the issue for the authority lies in supplying water through tankers, a remedy always remained ineffective and controversial among citizens.
There is no shortage of water anywhere in Islamabad and our tankers are supplying water day, night to the residents. We are doing everything in our capacity to alleviate the shortage, said Director General Water Management CDA Ali Murad when asked about the situation in different sectors. He said the helplines are open 24/7, and that they promptly act on complaints filed by the residents.
A resident of Sector G-10 Waseem Abbas said, We are facing a lot of problems due to shortage of water from the past one month. We do not get water for washing, bathing and for cleaning purposes.
Shortage of water in summer is a problem not only being faced by the urban areas of the capital but rural areas as well, especially the localities of Ali Pure, Tarlai Kalan and Bhara Kahu, where residents buy water from private tankers to fulfill their basics.
Resident Waseem said CDA also supplies water through its own tankers, but to get hold of them is a difficult task as mostly these tankers provide water to people who have approach or connections. The bureaucrats, policemen and businessmen get their tankers on priority basis. Rest of the populace is either at the mercy of uncertain water supply or private tanker mafia which they charge 2000 per tanker which is not bearable at any cost, he added.
DG Ali Murad said one of the turbines of the CDA was out of order which was sent to Lahore for maintenance purposes. Now it had been fixed and will start operating in a couple of days.
He said to overcome the increasing water shortage, 34 tankers are ready all the time on merit in order to give respite to the citizens, adding illegal service stations operating in G, F and I sectors were also aggravating the situation.
The ever-increasing trend of water boring has also contributed gravely by disturbing the water table of the capital. Water level is going down each passing day and the situation does not bode well at all.
One can spot many water borings done in private capacity by residents as well as government officials for their convenience.
A resident of Sector G13, Dr Ijaz Ahmed while complaining about the authorities concerned said people were utilizing their own source to fulfill the need of water.
He said residents were paying heavy cost for water boring which was depleting water resources while water theft at leakage points was another factors in creating its shortage.
He demanded of the authorities to pay attention to this ill practice and control leakage at different points.
Climate change was also contributing to the water shortage, particularly underground water level, authorities concerned should adopt preventive measures in this regard, said Meteorological Department ‘s Director Muhammad Hanif.
The DG Water Management further said sector G13 was not under the CDA domain. Housing Foundation had taken its charge from the past few months and now it was responsible for all of its good or bad.
The way CDA efficiently take care of issues like water, electricity, gas and maintenance, housing foundation could never do the same, he added.
