ISLAMABAD: For a few days now, the city’s managers have been providing G-6 and G-7 with water on alternate days only. According to officials of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and the Capital Development Authority, the step was taken in order to better handle the shortage of water in the summers as the water level in both Simly and Khanpur dams has been decreasing due to no rains.

According to Director Water Supply Nasir Jamil Butt, the MCI receives 19 million gallons per day (MGD) from Simly Dam.

“Because of the less rainfall, the water level in the dam has fallen to 2,278 feet when the highest water level in the dam is 2,315 feet. This is alarming which is why we are only getting 19MGD from the reservoir so there is no shortage of water in the summers,” he said.

Mr Butt added that Islamabad needs 114MGD and that the current supply is about 55MGD.

A resident of G-7, Abid Ali said he has to get water from the nearest filtration plant. So far, the city’s managers have not made any plans for meeting the increased demand for water due to the urban sprawl. The Chirah Dam project has been shelved indefinitely and the administration is looking towards the Ghazi Barotha project for meeting the water demand from Islamabad and Rawalpindi but no practical steps have been taken for the early start of the project.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2018