Solar-powered water schemes sought for Bajaur villages
BAJAUR: The people of three villages of Utmankhel tehsil here on Saturday called for establishing solar-powered water supply schemes to resolve the issue of drinking water shortage on permanent basis.
Talking to mediapersons here, the residents of Siknadro, Gandaoo and Gardai said the areas had been facing water shortage following drying up of the local natural springs and streams several weeks ago.
They said the water shortage had created numerous problems for the entire population of these areas in the holy month of Ramazan.
They said the district administration and TMA had been sending at least two water tankers on daily basis, but the issue needed permanent solution. They urged the authorities to set up solar-powered water supply schemes in the areas on priority.
They said the tankers being sent by the authorities were insufficient to meet the drinking water need of the residents, as most of them had to fetch water from far-flung places.
They urged the administration to not only increase the number of water tankers for their villages, but also establish at least one solar-based water supply scheme in each area on emergency basis.
When contacted, tehsil municipal officer, Khar, Mohammad Fayyaz Khan said his department had decided to double the number of tankers supplying water to the affected areas from Monday to meet the need of the residents.
POLICEMAN INJURED: A policeman was wounded when unidentified assailants opened fire on him in Khar town here on Friday evening, residents and police said.
They identified the police official as Nazeer Khan, 52, and said he was on way to his home in Khar town after offering evening prayers in a nearby mosque when unidentified attackers started firing on him.
The official received multiple wounds in head and upper parts of body. He was taken to DHQ hospital, Khar, where doctors referred him to a hospital in Peshawar.
Nazeer Khan is the father of JUI-F local leader Maulana Tahir Hanafi. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2022
