SWAT: Groundwater depletion in Mingora and its suburbs has set alarm bells ringing for around 0.6 million residents of the major financial hub of Swat district.

Though home to the Swat River and hundreds of streams and springs, the lowland has been facing water crisis for a few years.

The experts blame the problem on climate change, rising population, deforestation and drilling of borewells as well as the drying of springs and streams.

According to chief executive officer of the Water and Sanitation Services Company Mingora, Swat, Shaida Mohammad, Mingora requires around 12 million gallons of water but the WSSC’s tubewells produce around 8.5 million gallons of water.

Experts complain of climate change, tree felling, drilling of borewells

“Alarmingly, groundwater in Mingora has depleted by more than 40 feet during the last five years causing serious shortages,” he told Dawn. He said the company had detected the issue after beginning operations four years ago.

Mr Mohammad said the issue might have been there for years but the relevant data was unavailable as the WSSC Swat was established in 2018.

He said the provincial government had approved the drought emergency response project under which a pipeline would be laid to address water shortages in Rang Mohallah, Gumbat Maira, Khwajabad, Shahabnagar and other areas.

Experts say the Swat River water gravity scheme promises smooth water supply to Mingora.

“In 2007, the MMA government had approved a water gravity scheme for Mingora but unfortunately it could not be implemented and the water shortage issue increased every year due to rapid increase of population,” said civil society member Fayaz Zafar.

He said Mingora was a major financial hub, where people come from other parts of Swat as well as Shangla, Dir, Bajaur, Buner and adjoining areas for work.

Resident Amjad Ali said climate change had also contributed to the decrease in underground levels.

“Two large streams run through Mingora, one from Marghuzar and the other from Jambil valley. Besides, there are also hundreds of springs around this area, which used to fulfil local water needs. However, the streams and springs have dried up, so the people depend on groundwater for use,” said civil society activist Amjad Ali.

Resident Zahir Ali insisted that the growing drilling of boreholes was causing groundwater depletion.

The people demanded an early execution of the water gravity project to resolve water issues in Mingora and surrounding areas.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2022