ISLAMABAD: The water directorate of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has been supplying uninterrupted water to the participants of Azadi March.

The supply is being made from three tubewells and four tankers.

However, a significant quantity of water is being wasted at the site.

An official of the water directorate said water from the tubewells was supposed to be supplied to G-10 water tank for further supply to the residents.

The official said because of the Azadi March, the supply of water from these tubewells had been prioritised for the marchers. In addition, four tankers are also deployed there to provide water to the protesters through taps installed on the rear of the tankers.

MCI supplying uninterrupted water to marchers, official says

During a visit to the site by Dawn, it was noticed that a significant quantity of water was being wasted which flowed on a service road.

“Since there is no drainage system, water flows on the road. But there is no serious wastage. In big gatherings such things happen,” said Ilyas Khan, a protester.

Another protester, Mohammad Ismail, said if the MCI was providing water to the protesters it was doing nothing special rather it was the responsibility of the department concerned.

“We are Pakistanis and it is our right to have sufficient water for drinking, ablution and other purposes,” he said.

Meanwhile, a senior officer of the water directorate said under the temporary arrangements the protesters were being provided water from more than one hundreds taps. Since there is no drainage system, the used water flows on the road.

“There is no serious wastage rather used water flows on the road as there is no drainage,” he said.

To a query, he said there was almost no impact on the supply of water to G-9 and G-10 as water was being provided to these sectors through other sources as well.

“Because of the weather conditions, currently we are not facing a water crisis-like situation in Islamabad,” the officer said.

He said one of the three tubewells was made functional after many years to ensure water supply to the protesters for ablution and other purposes.

Islamabad faces water shortage as in its urban areas there is a need for 120 million gallon per day (mgd) of water while the MCI is supplying only 60 to 70mgd.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019