GILGIT, Dec 5: With the onset of winter, the city is again facing a severe shortage of water and the main reason again is considered to be theft of water by influential people through illegal connections. Northern Areas Labour Party chief organizer Ahsan Ali and People’s Party Parliamentarians leader Rana Nazeem Khan told this correspondent that the officials of the water distributing agency were encouraging water theft and consequently creating an artificial water crisis.

“The officials, mainly from the NAPWD and police, have installed illegal pipes of thick diameter and as a result ordinary consumers are left without water,” they said.

They accused influential residents of Jutial (Noor, Wahdat and Cheeta colonies) of violating water supply schedule and pressurizing ordinary consumers not to protest against the malpractice.

They said at least eight senior NAPWD engineers, serving and retired police officers, wealthy contractors, politicians, professionals and government officers had obtained illegal water connections from the main supply line. They called upon the Northern Areas chief secretary and water and power secretary to inquire into the matter and ensure smooth supply of water to thousands of consumers.