KOHAT: The residents of Kohat city have been facing acute shortage of drinking water for the last two weeks due to the ongoing tussle between the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) and Pesco authorities over payment of outstanding power bills of tubewells.

The water table in the wells in houses has also gone down during the past few weeks and the residents see no remedy at hand despite giving written applications to the tehsil nazim and deputy commissioner to resolve the problem.

Following a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office by women of Bahadar Kot last week it had been agreed that a portion of the power dues would be paid by TMA and the rest by the water supply and sanitation company.

Urban-5 chairman Rahat Naveed led a protest against the administration on Sunday and held TMA and the Peshawar Electric Supply Company responsible for the water crisis.

District councillor from Urban-I Zahoor Ahmed said in a statement that TMA was the first to take credit for the establishment of Turkish-run water supply and sanitation company, but was now tightlipped over its poor performance.

Rights activist Israr Khan said in a statement that he had requested the deputy commissioner to help resolve the matter. He said that Pesco had cut off supply to the tubewell of Noor Elahi Colony which had created water shortage in adjacent Afghan refugee camp, Khawaja Abad, Sultan Banda and Jarwanda.

Also, water in local wells has turned muddy due to lowering level and it is not fit for drinking. Besides, the new company has cut off water connections without serving final notices on the consumers.

The people are now forced to bring water from nearby mosques and springs.

The residents have demanded of the authorities to resolve the problem and also install water filtration plants in the city.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017