‘Pani do, vote lo’ (get vote in return for water supply) is the message painted by the people on the walls across water-scarce Mansehra city for election candidates.

Water shortages are so serious in the city that the people are frequently seen wait in long queues for the Tehsil Municipal Administration bowsers to show up and fill their jerricans, buckets and bottles with water.

Besides blaming their misery on the suspension of water supply from the TMA’s two major reservoirs, the people also complain that the region’s most wells, springs and other natural bodies of running water have dried up due to the prolonged dry spell in Hazara division.

Now, the residents of many localities have decided to vote for only those election candidates, who supply water to them.

“We, the people of inner city, have decided that we will participate in the July 25 elections only if the candidates initiate water schemes in our areas no matter how they manage it,” Mohammad Jamil said.

He said both TMA water reservoirs meant to fulfil the city’s needs had dried up with the underground water plunging drastically.

“More than 70 percent of our wells and hand pumps are dry now causing a serious water crisis in the region,” he said.

Another resident, Mohammad Jibran, flayed councillors and members of the national and provincial assemblies over indifference to their water woes and said Mansehra had so many elected representatives but ironically, they miserably to launch a single drinking water scheme in the last three decades.

As the temperatures are rising, men and children go to the rivers and springs on the city’s outskirts to cool themselves off.

Among such places is the Nara Hamshirian spring, which is 12km from the city. It attracts crowds of people from Mansehra, who besides taking bath in its waters also bring water containers with them to fill.

“I cover 12km to fetch water from the Nara Hamshirian spring. Besides, it also cool myself off in its waters in the scorching heat,” Mohammad Arif said.

He said the outgoing PML-N federal government had announced the launch of a drinking water supply scheme on the Siren River for Mansehra with the financial assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency but action on the announcement didn’t take place due to the negligence of local lawmakers.

“We have huge water resources in the district, including Kunhar and Siren Rivers and streams, but neither the provincial and federal governments nor local governments sincerely worked to benefit from them to fulfil our needs,” he said.

As the July 25 elections draw closer, the candidates, both fielded by political parties and independents, are promising the people mega water schemes after becoming assembly members.

“I am very upset to see the PML-N government fail to address the people’s water problems but I assure them if elected, I’ll ensure the launch of a mega water scheme in the region,” said Salah Mohammad Khan, who deserted former premier Nawaz Sharif’s party over differences with leadership and plans to contest elections in NA-13 as an independent candidate.

Mr Salah said he wanted to become MNA just to address the water and graveyard problem in Mansehra.

“I flay the last federal government for scrapping the Jica-funded mega water scheme in our city but assure the people that if I’m given a chance to be part of the next National Assembly, I’ll address this water problem on permanent basis,” he said.

Former PML-N MPA Sardar Zahoor, who is also being criticised by people and rivals over water issue, has promised smooth water supply to PK-31 after election.

“A water scheme, which I’d launched during my tenure as MPA will soon be completed to supply 200,000 gallons of water to urban parts of Mansehra town,” he said.

He claimed that the PML-N government had seriously worked for the supply of water from the Siren River with the Rs4 billion financial assistance of the Jica but some technical issues blocked the project.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates are also highlighting water shortage as a major issue in election campaigns.

“Our party gives a lot of importance to the provision of civic amenities to the people. If the people vote us (PTI) to power, we will effectively address this water scarcity issue on priority basis,” said PTI candidate in PK-31 Babar Saleem Swati.

The PTI candidate said the successive governments and even the local governments didn’t bother to launch a water scheme to meet the needs of the city.

“Now, this (water) issue has really become serious as the underground water has plunged drastically and wells and hand pumps are dried up due to the prolonged dry spell,” he said.

The water shortages have forced the people to get water from private bowsers at exuberant rate.

“We cannot meet the demands of the people as the place from where we collect water has seen lower water level due to the prolonged dry weather,” said bowser driver Abdul Wahid.

The driver said the city received heavy downpours a couple of months ago but even then, the underground water didn’t get any boost.

Mr Wahid said the people regularly offered Namaz-i-Astasqa (prayer for rains) but even then, water crisis had refused to die.

He said the local lawmakers and governments had never taken the water shortage issue seriously and thus, causing it to become a big crisis.

“The politicians are approaching the people yet again with promises of ensuring smooth water supply after election but we’re certain that all these promises will turn out to be false once they get to assemblies,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2018