July 03, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429

RAWALPINDI, July 2: Rawal Dam’s administration has cut the supply of water to Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas by two million gallons per day (mgd) for want of higher tariff, prompting the authorities to involve the military to resolve the issue.

After reducing the supply, the Small Dams Organisation (SDO) is asking the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to pay Rs4 per 1,000 gallons of water to meet the increasing cost of dam’s maintenance.

Currently, Wasa is paying just 19 paisas per 1,000 gallons of water to the SDO.

The SDO criticises Wasa authorities for charging customers heavily but not paying it proportionately.

Interestingly, Wasa is paying Rs6 per 1,000 gallons of water to Khanpur Dam’s administration while it pays only 19 paisas to Rawal Dam, resulting in fewer funds for maintenance of the reservoir.

Wasa has informed Station Commander Brig Sajjad about the SDO’s decision of cutting water supply to Rawalpindi, and has also planned to meet the dam’s administration today (Thursday) for resolving the issue.

When contacted, SDO Executive Engineer (XEN) Afzal Toor argued that as the maintenance cost had gone up, Wasa must pay more for the water it was receiving from the dam.

He said if the agency could increase water charges for its consumers, then it must also pay more to the Rawal Dam administration.

“In 1998, Wasa was collecting Rs28 from domestic consumers as water tariff and paying 19 paisas to us. Now, it charges domestic consumers by Rs78 but still pays 19 paisas to us,” Mr Toor added.

He clearly stated that water supply would be restored to Wasa in case it agreed to pay the water tariff demanded by the organisation, and warned that the dam’s condition would deteriorate in case Wasa failed to meet the demand of the SDO.

However, Wasa managing-director Lt-Col (retired) Islamul Haq said the SDO was carrying out “no maintenance work” at the dam, accusing the organisation of cutting water supply without prior notice.