ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has claimed that water share for Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Khanpur Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is allegedly being used through ‘unfair means’ before it reaches the CDA reservoir in Sangjani.

CDA Water Management Director General Sardar Khan Zimri said, “Wapda releases around 51 million gallons per day (mgd) and we receive around 28mgd.” He said the CDA received its share through an open canal and a “significant share” was lost on the way due to suspected theft and conveyance losses.

The issue has already been taken up with Wapda and other stakeholders. According to an agreement, the water received from Khanpur Dam will be stored in a reservoir in Sangjani, from where 20mgd will be diverted to Rawalpindi and 10mgd to Islamabad.

According to the water management DG, the left bank canal through which the agency receives its water share is not an exclusive facility, as it has eight outlets for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and three for Punjab.

Official says Wapda releases 51mgd from dam, only 28mgd is received in Sangjani; panel also formed to probe impact of diversion of water

“There is no financial loss, but we lose our allocated water share, especially when we are already facing a water shortage in Islamabad,” he said, adding that the CDA paid Wapda for its share.

CDA documents revealed the estimated shortfall was 25 to 30 per cent possibly due to “conveyance losses and suspected water theft”.

The documents claimed the irrigation departments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa managed the distribution canals, and the potential losses and thefts allegedly occurred before the water reached the CDA intake point in Sangjani.

In order to ensure equitable distribution of water and curb thefts, Wapda in 2020 prepared a concept to install a telemetry system on the left bank canal; however, the beneficiaries still have to agree on the installation and operational costs of this system.

A CDA official suggested laying pipelines in the area susceptible to theft as an “immediate solution”, saying after passing through the ‘grey area’, water should be discharged again in the canal.

It may be noted that Islamabad has two main water sources – Simly Dam and Khanpur Dam. It is relevant to note that the CDA took up the issue with Wapda and other stakeholders in a recent meeting.

In the same meeting, a committee was formed “to determine the quantity of seepage water available for diversion to the left bank canal for the use of CDA in Islamabad/Rawalpindi,” read the October 4 minutes issued by Wapda, which is the custodian of Khanpur Dam.

According to the minutes issued by Khanpur Dam Executive Engineer Shoaib Arshad, the committee will also investigate the impact of water diversion by a private firm, named Bismillah Co, and recommend remedial measures to ensure that water regulation is not controlled by the private company.

Sources in CDA said that the private company after getting approval from relevant authorities, including the CDA, also installed a hydel power plant on the left bank canal. When the company runs this plant, some of the water meant for the CDA “started going reverse in the right bank canal”, another CDA official revealed. He had no answer when asked why the CDA issued the NOC for this hydel plant.

The committee would also examine pertinent documents, including the PC-I of the Khanpur Dam Project and water apportionment among beneficiaries, besides related reports. The committee will also investigate the impact of water diversion created by Bismillah Co.

It is relevant to note here the requirement of Islamabad is 220mgd and the CDA supply is about 70mgd from its three main sources – Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam, and tube wells in urban areas. Rural areas are mostly dependent on bore water and small water schemes of the district government.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024