SWABI, Dec 26: Several localities of Swabi have been facing drinking water shortage after the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) stopped power supply to tube-wells of public health engineering department (PHED) because of its failure to clear Rs2.4 million dues, sources told this correspondent on Monday.

They said that the Pesco staff had intimated the PHED officers well in time about payment of dues, but they could not clear them till the set date.

The consumers said that if the power supply was not restored immediately it could lead to severe water scarcity in the congested areas like district headquarters, Topi, Panjpir, Salim Khan, Gohati and numerous other regions.

The residents said that they had paid their water bills and it was the responsibility of the officers concerned to pay the Pesco dues without any delay. They alleged that it was the incompetence of the public health officers which caused the water shortage.

A Pesco official, who opted not to be named, alleged that the public health officers had adopted delaying tactics in depositing the dues and the company staff had no option but to disconnect electricity supply to the tube wells.

Amjid Ali, a resident of Topi, said that they were already facing shortage of drinking water when the public health staff had been allowing the supply for two times a day. He said that the complete stoppage of water would result in severe problems for the people.

The residents warned that if the water supply was not resumed they would stage a protest demonstration against the public health staff. They also complained that clean drinking water was not provided and in most of the areas sewerage water got mixed with water of the supply schemes.

Meanwhile, Shah Wali, a local activist of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, warned that if water supply was not immediately resumed his party would give a call for a protest demonstration.