SWABI: Water table has dropped here in the district due to prolonged dry spell, causing severe water shortage in several localities.

People of Bada village told this scribe on Thursday that the prevailing drought-like situation had pushed the groundwater level downward.

They said that in the last two decades it was the first time that they confronted water shortage and the reason was no rainfall for a long period.

People say water table has dropped during last few weeks

Answering a question, they admitted that majority of the dug wells were either shallow or built poorly. Ahmad Khan of the area said that the people had also offered special prayers for rain.

Sohail Ahmad of Topi city said that the water level had dropped lower than their installed water pumps during the last few weeks. Solai and Khararay were the two most affected areas because they were located on the top of a mount.

Murad Khan of Solai area said that the water level had declined due to no significant rains in the near past. “The water pump could not draw water because the water level has descended,” he said.

People said that their wells have gone dry. The unprecedented housing development and massive increase in wells to meet water needs also caused damage to the water table.

They said that water pumps work only for a few minutes, as the wells were not deep enough to beat the potential decline in water level.

People in Gabgani area said that their village was located above the sea level and in case of no rains their wells went dry. They said that it was difficult for them to meet their water needs easily.

The residents said that the water level in wells fluctuated during summer season. “Groundwater level usually begin to fall in May and continue to decline in the following months in summer if there is no rainfall,” said an official.

He said that construction of houses at a rapid speed and population growth would continue to give birth to a host of problems, including water shortage.

SSC RESULTS: Ubaidur Rehman has clinched top position in GIK College of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations 2017 of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad.

The Federal Board announced the result on Wednesday. He secured 998 marks of total 1,050 marks. Aishah Bente Nawaz clinched second position with 994 marks and Mashaal Nageen third position with 964 marks.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2017