LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Feb 19: Domestic and industrial waste has over the years polluted the once famous and mineral- rich Bara water. Originating from snow laden mountains and natural springs in the remote Tirah valley, the Bara water acclaimed international popularity for its purity and clarity during the British colonial rule of the subcontinent. The water culminates into a river at Dwa Thoe, some 45 kilometres west of Bara.

Elders of both Bara and Peshawar narrate that British officials used to ferry Bara water as gift to relatives and friend in Great Britain during their rule of the subcontinent.

The then British officials had reportedly conducted a number of experiments to establish its purity and richness with natural minerals, Haji Anwar, a senior Bara resident told Dawn.

Over the years increase in the construction of residences and industrial units at Alamgudar, some three kilometres from Bara bazaar, had added to the contamination of Bara water with industrial and domestic waste. The construction of Zakhakhel road to Tirah valley also added to the contamination of the water.

A major portion of the road passes near by the Bara river and majority of drivers are seen washing their vehicles in the river water. Aurangzeb, a resident of the area, said that holding of weekly bazaars at the banks of the river in upper areas of Tirah had also polluted the once most hygienic water.

The Britons after completing their experiments, built a kilometre-long and six feet-wide cemented canal from Karigar Ghari to Bara in 1918 for supply of water to five reservoirs of equal capacity at Bara for storage and purification purpose.

Alamgudar, where an industrial estate is situated, falls ahead of Karigar Ghari and almost all industrial waste fell into the canal, and polluting the water.

From Bara, the water is onward supplied to Peshawar for domestic consumption. The Britons had also constructed two big tankers near Pishtakhara, at the out skirts of Peshawar, where the water was treated and made suitable for drinking.

At present the whole scheme is operated by the PAF wing of military engineering services. Residents of Bara have demanded of the government authorities to take practical steps for saving Bara water from further contamination and a strict ban on addition of industrial and residential waste to it at Alamgudar. They also suggested that if properly treated, the water could earn a handsome capital after bottling and marketing.