MINGORA: The residents of different areas in Mingora have said that they face acute water shortage owing to prolonged power loadshedding.

The residents of Malookabad, Rang Mohallah, Gumbat Maira, Kaan Mohallah and several other localities said that they had to fetch water from streams, springs and the Swat River as the areas were facing water shortage owing to prolonged power loadshedding.

“Since the start of Ramazan, there has been no water in our supply line. I daily hire a Suzuki pickup to fetch water from the Swat River in Fizagat area. It costs me Rs500 per trip,” said Akbar Ali, a resident of Malookabad area.

However, poor people cannot afford to hire vehicles for fetching water from far off streams or the river.

“I am fruit vendor and go out early in the morning to sell fruits at Mingora bazaar but shortage of water has created big problems for me as I have to fetch water from a spring, which is two kilometres away from my home,” said Khanzada, a resident of Gumbat Maira.

The local people criticised the federal government and demanded an immediate end to loadshedding in the month of Ramazan.

“Where are the claims of the federal government that there would be no power loadshedding in the holy month of Ramazan,” questioned Khan Akbar, a resident of Rang Mohallah.

Even children are seen carrying water pots. “Our school is open in this Ramazan but when we go home, we have to fetch water from a spring, which is far away from our house,” said Maryam, a girl in Gumbat Maira.

Ikram Khan, the tehsil nazim, said that all the tubewell operators performed their duty but power loadshedding caused water scarcity.

“The municipal administration staff and tubewell operators perform their duty but prolonged power loadshedding has caused shortage of water,” he added.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2016