DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A water supply scheme was inaugurated in Chodhwan area here on Monday, which would benefit 2,525 households of 10 villages.

DI Khan Deputy Commissioner Motasim Billah Shah and Dr Arjumand Nizami, country director, Inter-Cooperation Pakistan, a Swiss NGO, inaugurated the scheme at a ceremony.

The scheme is part of the Water for Livelihoods Project financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It has been executed by Inter-Cooperation in partnership with public health engineering department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and NOGs Veer Development Organisation and Water User Association.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nizami said Inter-Cooperation Pakistan had been working in DI Khan for over 15 years, contributing in livelihood improvement in agriculture, livestock, local economic development, disaster management and water sectors.

He termed availability of clean and safe drinking water as main driver of prosperity in the area.

He asked the line departments to further strengthen linkages with the national and international organisations for similar projects, and urged local representatives to support good initiatives.

Community members expressed jubilation on the completion of the water supply scheme.

They said they had been forced to consume rainwater which was accumulated in ponds meant for animals.

The scheme includes RCC surface reservoir with 50,000 gallon capacity and a main supply line of 37,714 metres and supply network to 10 villages.

The total cost of the scheme is Rs52.3 million with 20 per cent contribution coming from the community.

Munawar Khan Khattak, team leader of the project, said two more similar schemes in DI Khan and Tank were under way which will benefit over 50,000 people.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016