GUJAR KHAN: An ancient pond near the Miana Mohra village of Gujar Khan has touched the lowest level due to the sweltering heat and diversion of water in the catchment areas.

Ponds in the rural areas of Potohar were mostly carved out by the Hindus and Sikhs during the pre-partition era.

In some of the villages ponds under peepal or banyan trees still exist as relics of the past but in most of the villages the water bodies located on common land have vanished and the land occupied by the land mafia.

Mohammad Shahzad, the local agriculture officer, told Dawn that these ponds were a blessing for the residents of villages.

He said they served as the reservoir of rainwater which was used for different purposes such as washing of clothes and fishery at a small scale.

Mr Shahzad said a decade ago the town of Daultala had four big ponds in and around it and underground water was also handy.

“With the demise of the ponds the water table receded to an alarming depth.

Hence, an acute water shortage is being experienced by the residents of the town.

On the other hand, the residents of Nata village, which faced an acute water shortage in the past, have overcome the problem by digging ponds.

The residents said the agriculture department should create awareness among the land owners in rural areas for the preservation, revival and development of ponds to improve the storage of rainwater.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017