GUJAR KHAN: Dozens of illegal water connections were severed in remote villages of Pind Dadan Khan on Friday, assistant commissioner Pind Dadan Khan Osama Sheron said while talking to Dawn.

He said as a result of the operation against illegal connection water supply had improved to Dhaddi Thall, Bhelewal, Lillah, Kundwal, Kahana, Raj Garh and Ahmedabad villages of Pind Dadan Khan tehsil.

Mr Sheron said these villages were located at the foothills of Khewra Salt range where water is provided from Niromi Dhan reservoirs located 20km away in Chakwal district.

As the the sub-soil water of these villages was brackish and unfit for human and animal consumption besides some influential people were stealing water for commercial purposes like service stations, restaurants, agricultural farms and marriage halls, the consumers at the tail end were forced to buy or fetch water from remote areas for home use.

He said water in reservoirs at Niromi lakes was sufficient but stealing of water from main pipeline was the root cause of the crisis.

Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Ramallah Ali and Assistant Commissioner Pind Dadan Khan Osama Sheron launched a operation against illegal connections that according to the sources will continue till zero pilferage of water.

Mr Osama said that the officials found guilty of patronising the pilferage of water would be dealt under departmental rules of discipline.

According to the local sources, the heavy machinery and technicians were being used to uproot and block these secret connections at the mainstream lines. The residents at the tail endare now experiencing 50pc improvement in the supply . The assistant commissioner said that 100pc elimination of pilferage would be ensured during the coming days.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024