BAHAWALPUR, July 11: The government has allocated Rs350 million for a phased programme to lay underground pipelines for the supply of drinking water to Cholistan areas where 18 people have died owing to shortage of water in the last week.

This was disclosed by Brig Ahsan Tiwana (retired), the Cholistan Development Authority managing director/vice-chairman, while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

He said the pipelines measuring about 200 kilometres long with a diameter from twelve to six inches will be laid mainly in the areas of Tokanwala, Khoi and Soorian in the greater Cholistan parts touching Rahim Yar Khan district.

He said the work could be taken in hand after the release of funds during the current financial year.

It is pertinent to mention that last year, pipelines to supply canal water for drinking purposes to the Cholistan people and their cattle were laid at a cost of Rs250 million in the lesser Cholistan areas of Bahawalpur district.

The MD, who paid a visit to the affected parts of Cholistan the other day, said the evidence on the spot showed that there were only nine deaths caused mainly by heatstroke as the bona fide Cholistanis were reported travelling during day time in scorching heat. Another traveler died of snake-bite, he said.