RAWALPINDI: While the monsoon season is almost over, there is no end to the water shortage in the cantonment areas which started with the start of the summer.

For over a year, the PML-N remained in power in Islamabad and majority of the cantonment’s elected members belonged to the party. However, they did nothing for improving the water supply in the cantonment areas.

The residents of Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment Boards are complaining about the indifference attitude of civic bodies. Among the areas facing water shortage are: Kalma Chowk, Azizabad, Mughalabad, Ali Road, Allahbad, Westridge, Tench Bhatta, Afshan Colony, Misrial Road and adjoining localities.

Thecantonment residents also criticised RCB for supplying water to them for just 20 minutes a day, even after dams were full of water.

Raja Munir, a resident of Kamalabad, said that water supply to his area had been disturbed for many years. He also complained of RCB’s indifference toward their complaints.

Shahzad Ahmed, a resident of Tench Bhatta, said water shortage had forced the residents to shift to other areas. He said getting water from private bowsers cost them Rs3,000 which was unaffordable amid rising inflation.

Nisar Kiani, a resident of Afshan Colony, said RCB released water on alternative days and conducting water rationing despite an improvement in storage in water reservoirs due to recent rains.

Officials, however, said the RCB was striving to improve the water supply situation. They said the water requirement had increased in the summer season. They said the RCB would initiate new projects during the current fiscal year to improve the supply network.

However, officials of Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) said less supply to the area from the main supply system coming from Khanpur Dam due to a fault was the main reason for the shortage.

When contacted, CCB elected member Raja Irfan Imtiaz said people were facing water shortage for many years. However, he said the basic reason was unavailability of underground water as many tubewells had gone dry.

He said water from Khanpur Dam was the only source for Chaklala, but less water was being provided to the cantonment.

However, he said a plan was being made to improve the water supply system.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2023