ISLAMABAD: Acute water shortage looms over capital as level in both Simly and Khanpur reservoirs is decreasing almost three inches every day.

Besides, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has failed to fix 46 out-of-order tube wells, though it is in the process floating tenders.

Like last session, the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) may again give tough time on the water issue to the ruling party in the coming session slated to be held on April 20.

“This is alarming, May is approaching but so far, the MCI could not fix the faulty tube wells, which are third major source of water,” said Ali Awan, opposition leader in the MCI. He feared that this summer the capital might go dry.

He, however, said that the MCI could bring improvement in water supply system by fixing all faulty tube wells.

The opposition leader said that tube wells should have been fixed well before time so that residents could get some relief in summer. “The water issue is on agenda of the coming MCI session, we will raise this issue again as the MCI is not taking any practical step to alleviate water crisis,” Mr Awan said.

Against the demand of 211MGD water daily, the MCI is providing only 55 to 65MGD water and this gap is most likely to be increased during May, June and July.

When contacted, Asad Kayani, chief metropolitan officer, confirmed that water level in both dams was decreasing by two to three inches daily. “We are in the process of fixing faulty tube wells, and once they are repaired, the shortage would be overcome to a great extent,” he said, adding on April 25, the contract to repair tube wells would be awarded to a private contractor.

While playing down water crisis he said water in Simly Dam is the sufficient for next three months,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Azam Khan, who is head of water committee of MCI told Dawn that MCI would award contract to fix 46 tube wells on April 25. “Once tube wells are made functional, I hope the situation would improve,” he said and added that on Sunday he visited the Khanpur Dam and witnessed the level in dam was decreasing.

He said currently, the MCI was getting 7 to 8MGD form Khanpur dam against the approved 12MGD, whereas Simly Dam was providing around 25MGD water against the approved 37MGD.

In the last session of MCI, the PTI gave tough time to Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz and ruling party as they after boycotting the session, staged a protest in Sector G-9 against the water shortage.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2017