RAWALPINDI: Water supply from Khanpur Dam to Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be curtailed from 28.6 million gallons daily (MGD) to 10 MGD from February 9 to February 22 due to the dredging of the left bank canal.

According to the Capital Development Authority’s Khanpur Dam Division, the water supply from Khanpur Dam will “remain suspended” from Feb 10 to Feb 19 for the annual desilting of the Left Bank Canal. “Consequently, the supply of treated water from Water Treatment Plant, Sangjani will be curtailed,” it said. The order showed that the supply of water to the twin cities will remain curtailed from Feb 9 to Feb 22.

In light of this development which will lead to a water shortage in the garrison city, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards declared a water emergency in their respective jurisdictions and decided to opt for water rationing.

The city and cantonment areas receive 19 MGD water from Khanpur Dam: 7 MGD in the city areas and 12 MGD for the RCB and the CCB. The Capital Development Authority got 9.6 MGD. After Feb 10, Rawalpindi’s city and cantonment areas will receive 6 MGD and Islamabad will get 4 MGD water from Khanpur Dam. As a result, it will be difficult for the civic bodies to meet the daily requirements of the residents.

Supply to reduce from 28 million gallons daily to 10 MGD from Feb 9 to 22

The curtailment of water supply will affect Pirwadhai, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Dhoke Matkaal, Shamsabad, Iqbal Town, Muslim Town, Sadiqabad, and some parts of Satellite Town in city areas while the cantonment areas would be worst affected by this decision.

Wasa Managing Director Mohammad Saleem Ashraf told Dawn that the civic body asked the residents for the judicious use of water during the 10 days and to maintain essential storage. He also assured that during this period, Wasa would operate its tubewells for additional hours in these areas.

“Water supply through bowsers will also be ensured but all these measures cannot meet the requirements of all the consumers. Therefore, consumers are requested to avoid wasting water during the shutdown period. The supply will be restored after the completion of dredging/desilting work on February 19,” he said.

When contacted, Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) elected member Raja Irfan Imtiaz said that the CCB was already facing water shortage and after curtailment, the residents would face problems in getting water.

“The underground water level is decreasing fast and most tubewells have gone dry in the area,” he said, adding that the civic body would have no other option but to seek help from other civic bodies to get additional water to meet the water requirements of the residents.

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

However, an official told Dawn that due to the potential reduction in the water supply, the civic body would face difficulties in meeting the daily water requirement of the cantonment areas.

He said water rationing in the cantonment areas would start from February 10.

Besides Rawal and Khanpur dams, the government is working on Daducha Dam, which will address the water shortage faced by Rawalpindi and other areas, particularly during summer when the shortfall reaches 60 MGD. The dam to be constructed for Rs12 billion will contribute to Rawalpindi’s water needs.

In a meeting earlier this month, the Rawalpindi commissioner said the dam would provide 35 MGD drinking water to the garrison city. Another project, Chahan Dam, is also under construction and it is expected to add 12 MDG to the city’s water supply.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2025