TAXILA, Jan 24: A water crisis is being feared in Rawalpindi and Islamabad following suspension of supply from Khanpur Dam for one week, starting from Thursday, to carry out desilting of the channel providing water to the twin cities from the reservoir.

The water supply is scheduled to be restored on January 31, sources said.

They said the 18-km water supply channel — the only source of water supply from Khanpur Dam to Sang Jani storage plant — was filled with mud and stones, hampering smooth flow of water.

Therefore, in a high-level meeting held in Islamabad it was decided to stop water supply from the dam to the twin cities to carry out desilting in the channel, the sources said.

The meeting, presided over by Ministry of Water and Power Joint Secretary Riaz Ahmed Khan, was attended by all the beneficiaries of Khanpur Dam water, including the Capital Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Agency and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.

Talking to this reporter, Khanpur Dam SDO Asim Rauf said water supply to Sang Jani reservoir would be suspended on Thursday for one week.

He said all the beneficiaries, including Project Management Organization, Heavy Industries Taxila, a cement plant, Wasa, CDA and cantonment board, would jointly participate in the desilting project.

The SDO said execution of the project would not only improve water flow but also the quality of water.

The sources said Khanpur Dam was the major source of water for the civic bodies of Taxila, Wasa, CDA and Pindi Cantonment. They said if adequate alternative arrangements were not made to meet consumers’ demands, the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad would be facing a major water crisis.

TBA POLLS: The elections for the slot of Taxila Bar Association joint secretary are scheduled to be held on January 26.