RAWALPINDI: Despite the monsoon season replenishing the dams, residents of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) continue to face severe water shortages, often resorting to expensive private water tankers to meet their daily needs.

The residents complain that while the RCB regularly issues water bills, the supply is irregular and insufficient, with water available only every two or three days for a mere 10 to 15 minutes.

“We have to pay double the charge for water- once to the RCB as water bill and then to private tankers,” said Mohammad Niaz, a resident of Lane No. 5 Peshawar Road.

“There is shortage of water in Tench Bhatta. We get water for 15 minutes after two days and pay the bill of water for 30 days a month. We are getting water for 10 to 15 days a month but the RCB charges for the entire period,” said Ahmed Nawaz.

Mohammad Akram, a resident of Afshan Colony, said there was a dire shortage of water in the cantonment areas, leaving them with no choice but to get water from private tankers.

“Nobody is listening to our complaints; they just say that there was no water in Khanpur Dam,” he said.

“The RCB does not even issue birth and death certificates to the resident until they clear their water charges. I went to the RCB to get birth certificate of my child but the officials asked me to clear water bills first,” said Sajjad Hussain, a resident of Lane No. 7, Peshawar Road.

RCB elected member and former vice president Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that there was a shortage of water in many areas of the cantonment board.

“The water supply will improve in the cantonment once the supply starts from Ghazi Barotha project,” he said.

He admitted that there was problem and the PML-N’s elected members were working to get funds for the water supply projects in the cantonment areas. However, he said that it was the duty of the water supply wing to ensure smooth supply.

Rawalpindi Cantonment Traders Association Secretary General Zafar Qadri said that there was water shortage in commercial areas of Saddar. He revealed that shopkeepers and plaza owners mostly get water from private tankers due to a lack of proper supply from the cantonment areas.

RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Syed Ali Irfan was not available for comment on the issue despite repeated attempts.

On the other hand, a press release issued by the RCB stated that board will initiate a campaign against defaulters of water charges and illegal water connection holders in the cantonment areas to improve water supply from September 1.

It stated that the water supply wing had completed a survey to trace illegal water connections.

The defaulters will submit dues and illegal connection holders will legalise their connection after submitting fines and dues.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2024