SHANGLA: There’s been an acute water shortage in Martung tehsil and adjoining areas for years, local residents complain.

The people told Dawn that the situation had stressed them out as they’d to fetch water from the faraway natural springs for domestic use.

“I’ve long been bringing water home from a natural spring, which is 30 minutes away from my house. In Ramazan as the demand for water grows, I go to the spring before iftar to avoid greater hassle later in the day,” said Saida Bibi of Manz Kalay village carrying water pots on head.

She said mostly, girls and women fetched water from natural springs and rivers. Another local resident, Khan Janab, said the water shortage problem had been there for years to the people’s misery.

He said some NGOs had executed water schemes in the area but they all were ruined by natural calamities over the years.

“Our assembly members have disregarded our misery, especially of women, who have to walk long distances to fetch water from a natural spring,” he said.

The resident said many women had drowned in the Indus in Kabal Gram area fetching water.

“Despite all these deaths, our elected representatives don’t care for us,” he said.

He warned if the authorities didn’t address water shortage in the area, the people would be left with no option but to agitate.

Local elder Ali Bahadar said the water crisis was growing day by day.

He said the people’s repeated requests to local lawmakers for water supply had fallen on deaf ears.

The elder complained that the local government’s representatives, too, were no help.

“We still live in the Stone Age as we’ve to fetch water from springs and rivers for domestic use,” he said.

The people demanded the smooth water supply to the area for their relief.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2016