GHALANAI, June 15: Mohmand Agency’s hilly areas, especially Haleemzai tehsil, are facing shortage of water due to the prolonged dry spell.

According to locals, dug well, tube wells and other sources of water have dried up and therefore, the people buy clean water for drinking and other purposes.

“We hire tankers to fetch drinking water from a distance of seven kilometers. There is an acute shortage of water in several areas of Mohmand Agency,” said Haleemzai resident Alam Shah.

He said the excessive loadshedding had contributed to the crisis.

According to him, his area and adjoining localities are being subjected to 20 hours loadshedding.

He said the government had spent Rs2.25 billion on water supply schemes in Mohmand Agency over the last few years but the issue of water shortage was unresolved.

Other local residents said dug wells and tube wells had dried up in Mohmand Agency due to the prolonged dry spell stressing out them. They said the lowering of water table in the region had left water supply schemes of no use.

“A small dam was constructed in Pandiali tehsil at the cost of Rs22.3 million in 2004 but it was later washed away by floods due to use of substandard material,” a local said.

He said the dam had since been awaiting reconstruction.

According to him, work on the Yousafkhel Dam has been completed, while Ganado Dam near Ghalanai, , the agency headquarters, will be constructed by 2015. There are reports that the Agency Headquarters Hospital and Civil Colony in Ghalanai also face shortage of drinking water.

Around 30,000 people of Ghalanai, Pagul Kor, Chanda, Mill, Koaz Ghandab and adjoining areas are affected by water shortage.

The female members of poor families fetch water in pitchers or other utensils from far-flung areas.

They cover long distances by foot. The water shortage has also forced women to wash clothes in ponds.

Owners of private water tankers are exploiting the situation to draw unfair profits.

According to the people, they pay Rs2,500 to Rs2,000 per tanker for water.

Owner of a private tanker said he paid Rs500 per tanker to private tube well operators and money to other relevant people, so the cost of delivering water to the people at home got higher. Tr ibesman Sahib Noor said in many villages, the people were using contaminated water for drinking, cooking and washing purposes, and were giving the same to animals.

He said the government should construct small dams and begin water supply schemes in the area to overcome water shortage.

“Construction of small dams will not only resolve the problem of water shortage but also increase the water table in the area,” he said.