MIANWALI, July 12: The scorching heat along with the absence of drinking water due to the closure of water supply schemes has created havoc in this district, and helpless people of the affected areas are running from pillar to post for restoration of their water supply projects.

Some people came out to express their resentment and blocked Mianwali-Bannu Road at Kot-Chandna, Tehsil Isakhel, and Mianwali-Rawalpindi Road at Musakhel, Tehsil Mianwali. The blockade of traffic at Mianwali-Bannu Road was followed by scuffles with law-enforcement agencies and resulted in registration of police cases against the affected people.

According to details, before the introduction of the district government system, water supply schemes were controlled by Public Health Engineering Department. They were responsible for the repair of pumps, water tanks, supply lines, besides payment of electricity bills and salaries to work charge operators. To meet the expenses, the Punjab government also allocated them funds, but now the whole scenario has changed and all responsibilities transferred to tehsil government.

For smooth running of these schemes, the Punjab government instructed Tehsil Nazims to establish user committees among the community feeding from respective water supply schemes and they would hold the responsibilities for the proper operation of schemes in their areas. These committees have to pay all liabilities after collection of water charges from the people. But no community stepped forward to shoulder responsibility as the people were reluctant to pay monthly dues of water supply.

Resultantly, 35 schemes out of 64 are lying idle since long in Mianwali and Isakhel due to absence of operators, technical faults and disconnection of electricity, etc., and gradually the number of closed water supply schemes is escalating.

This correspondent contacted Tehsil Nazim, Mianwali, Haji Khurshid Anwar Khan, and apprised him of the situation. He told that “we tried hard through Nazims of Union Councils to establish user committees in their respective Union Councils but failed miserably due to non-cooperation of the people.”

Due to mounting public pressure and demonstrations by the affected people, the bureaucracy just to show their efficiency deducted Rs4 million from our development and at-source collection funds to pay electricity bills.

Despite the payment of a huge amount, there are still arrears of Rs2.40 million of electricity bills against these water supply schemes. He further told all these responsibilities were thrust on the Tehsils by the Punjab government. Without allocating funds for the smooth running of these schemes and in the present circumstances it is very difficult for Tehsils to release huge fund from their development budget because “our whole annual grant is insufficient for the smooth running of water supply schemes in the area and the Punjab government must take notice of such a situation and allocate special grant-in-aid for the smooth running of all water supply schemes in this district.”

Mianwali District has a large area scattered around the Salt Range mountains, especially in Mianwali and Isakhel tehsils. People have to travel miles in the mountains to fetch water on foot or on donkeys from the springs. Luckily some villages got water supply schemes through political influence but they too are facing the same problem today.

In the scorching heat in this district, drinking water becomes a life-saving necessity for human beings as well as animals. The most affected villages include Chidru, Musakhel, Sawans, Paikhel, Nasriwala, Chahsmia, Kot Chandna, Banni Afghan, Chapri, Zehri, Tola Mangali, Mala Khel, Tola Bhangi Khel, Tabisar and Sarkia.

It is heart rending that in some places people are forced to drink water with animals from ponds. The inhabitants of these areas are not the only ones who are affected by the abandoned water supply schemes. Longing for their salaries for the last one year are work charge operators of these schemes. They also held many rallies before the District Nazim’s office and sent persistent complaints to high-ups but to no avail.

The social circles of the area have urged the chief minister to take serious note of the plight of the thirsty people of this area and provide funds for the smooth running of these schemes, besides resources for salaries of work charge employees.