The residents of the capital are facing acute water shortage as demand for water tankers has reached 800 to 900 on daily basis. The water shortage, especially in sectors I-9 and I-10, has multiplied the sufferings of the residents in the scorching heat when temperature is rising with every passing day.
“I woke up at 4 ‘O’ clock in the morning and rushed to the water tanker office but got 140th number slip and still was not sure whether I will get it till night or not,” Yousaf, a resident of I-10/2, said. When contacted, Water Management Wing Director General Sanaullah Aman said the water consumption increases manifold during the summer months while unscheduled load shedding and lavish use of water by the residents are the major reasons of water shortage. The authority is currently pumping out 27m gallons (MGD) water per day from Simly Dam and 8 million from Khanpur Dam to cater to the city’s domestic water needs. However, one MGD additional water from both Simly and Khanpur dams will be pumped out from July 1 to meet the growing requirements of the summer season, he said.
A tanker service, comprising 27 tankers, is extending the supply to the consumers at nominal price, however, six more tankers will be hired from sports and culture wing to meet the increasing water demand, he added. Pakistan Meteorological Department has, however, forecast pre-monsoon rains from June 21 and monsoon rains from the first week of July, which will help overcome the water shortage, he said.
He added the residents must ensure judicious use of water as the lavish use of this precious commodity causes shortage and creates problems for them as well as for others. Aman said the CDA, under its ongoing campaign to save water, has seized around 300 illegal connections so far. These illegal connections also include water connections of farmhouses from major pipelines of Simly Dam, he revealed and added most of the residents have fitted motors in the water pipelines illegally for dragging extra water, which hampers supply of water to all the sectors.
The teams deployed to keep check on the use of water in the capital have also identified 60 motors installed at various places, Aman said. Under the campaign, challans are being issued by the authority’s magistrate to those who waste water for washing cars, gardening and other chores.