BAHAWALPUR: Given the continuing harsh hot and dry spell, which has created a drought-like situation in the vast desert areas, the administration of Cholistan Development Authority (CDA) has sought Rs400 million funds from the Punjab government for improving the existing drinking water supply schemes for residents and provision of water and fodder to their livestock.

According to CDA Managing Director Naeem Bokhari, given the apprehensions of a long dry spell in the vast desert, funds to the tune of Rs100 million are required for the six existing and new waterlines schemes in Cholistan, including the rehabilitation of Bijnot and Khalry schemes in Yazman tehsil, besides Rs30m for other waterline schemes in different desert areas.

The MD says that sums of around Rs186m and Rs40m, respectively, are required for the purchase of four new water bowsers and provision of fodder for animals.

In this respect, the MD says that he has written a letter to Punjab’s planning and development (P&D) secretary with a request to forward it to the higher authorities concerned for sanctioning and release of the required funds.

Hot and dry spell in Cholistan

He says that CDA was already providing drinking water to the residents of Cholistan and their animals through the waterlines, in addition to the supply through water bousres at four points, including Bijnot, where there was no waterline.

As per officials, presently over 1,100 open water ponds, called tobas, have gone dry in the desert areas, while the cattle grazing fields have also vanished, because of the scorching heat. Due to such harsh weather conditions, a majority of Cholistan people has already moved out of the desert, along with their herds for want of drinking water and fodder for their livestock.

But, those who have opted to stay, along with their herds of camels, cows and sheep, are in dire need of water and fodder in this harsh weather and the continuing dry spell.

This situation has prompted the CDA authorities to approach the government for more funds.

‘RAPIST’ HELD: Police have arrested a man for raping a mentally and physically challenged girl related to him, leaving her pregnant in Kahrorepucca tehsil of Lodhran district.

According to police, the parents of the girl said they came to know that their daughter,who was mentally and physically challenged, had five-month pregnancy, when they took her to a doctor for treatment of pain in her abdominal area.

They said the girl, who is deaf and mute, identified her alleged rapist, a relative, through signs.

On the complaint of the victim’s father, the Kahrorepucca police have arrested the suspect.

IUB PROTEST: Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan has ordered provision of drinking water to the girls hostel of the Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB), after the female boarders staged a protest demo at Baghdad-ul-Jadid campus on Tuesday night.

Taking notice of the protest by female students, the governor, who is also chancellor of the IUB, directed the VC Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar to make alternative arrangements for the supply of water to the boarders and get installed two extra water turbines to permanently solve the issue of water shortage in the varsity hostels.

According to an IUB press release, on governor’s instructions, the IUB administration restored the water supply in all university hostels on Wednesday.

The press release says that two extra water turbines would also be installed in the hostels on emergency basis in pursuance of the governor’s directives.

BOY DROWNS: A boy drowned in the river Sutlej at mauza Tarinda Bishara near Uch Sharif, about 70kms from here on Wednesday.

As per Rescue 1122 officials, Faisal (16), drowned in the river, while his family was plucking watermelons in nearby fields.

Some locals retrieved the body from the river and handed it over to the family of the deceased boy.

SEALED: The Mailsi Municipal Committee sealed offices of a housing colony whose owner defaulted on payment of MC dues.

The residents of Sharif Colony, comprising hundreds of houses, demanded action against the owner and administration of the colony, saying that he had been charging dues from them regularly.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024