HARIPUR: The residents of two urban localities of Noor Colony here on Monday staged a demonstration against the tehsil municipal administration and the public health department for their failure to fix a faulty tubewell, which caused water shortage in the areas.

The residents of Mohallah Munsifabad and Younasabad chanted slogans against the TMA and the public health engineering department for their pathetic attitude.

The protesters said about 10 days ago the water pumping machine of one of the two tubewells went out of order, and the authorities concerned removed the faulty motor, which could not be reinstalled till date.

They said as they were awaiting the reinstallation of pumping machine, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company staff removed the link of the second tubewell on Monday for nonpayment of dues, completely suspending water supply to the two densely-populated localities.

The protesters, who marched on different streets of the localities, criticised the local political leadership for its failure in ensuring the uninterrupted water supply.

They said if the TMA had failed to clear the Pesco dues, the officials of the power company should have disconnected the power supply of TMA offices rather than punishing the consumers.

They said the women and children were forced to fetch water on their heads from distant areas as they had no alternative source of potable water.

The protesters demanded installation of a new water pump and restoration of connection of the second tubewell for early resumption of water supply to their areas.

The officials of the public health department and TMA were not available for comments due to the public holiday on Monday.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023