August 7, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to reduce the Capital’s water supply from Simly Dam by 50 per cent.

A CDA official told Dawn on Tuesday that the water level has declined to 2,247 feet against its highest of 2,295 feet due to insufficient rains.

He said the authority will gradually reduce the supply of water from the dam and some two million gallon would be reduced every day from August 6 onward.

Following the reduction, 15Mgd would be supplied to Islamabad against 29Mgd.

He said the CDA will again start water rationing in the capital. Water rationing had been reduced by 50 per cent and water was being supplied on daily basis in half of Islamabad.

“ The residents will receive water on alternate days and if the situation does not improve, we will go for further rationing,” the official said.

Simly Dam was one of the main water sources for Islamabad but its level had declined by 48 feet. He said the recent rains could not add much to the Simly Dam’s reserves.

Normal supply of water from the 180 tubewells in the capital is 23mgd, which has been reduced to 10mgd.

About seven Mgd was being supplied from water augmentation scheme and three Mgd from Badhana Reservoir near Khanpur Dam. Four Mgd water was being supplied from other sources, they added.

The CDA official appealed to the residents to avoid wastage of water by adopting different measures. About 18 per cent of water supplied was wasted by the residents.