News
Monday, June 06, 2011
CDA helpless to overcome water crisis in capital
By Ali Hassan
ISLAMABAD: The citizens of federal Capital are facing extreme water shortage these days where as Capital Development Authority (CDA) is not bothering to take stern action to address the prevailing hard times of the capital dwellers. According to CDA, city is facing a shortage of around 94 million gallon of water per day.
The civic authorities are least concerned to pay any heed to this issue. The services department of CDA has initiated the supply of water through water tankers to the capital dwellers but the drivers of these water tankers used to charge high amount than the money assigned for the supply.
Therefore this strategy is also not healing the wounds of the residents to get respite from this shortage. Daily Times has learnt that sector G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, I-8, I-9, I-10 and many other sectors are facing extreme water shortage.
According to sources in CDA, daily requirement of residents of Islamabad is more than 150 million gallon, whereas only 56 million gallons of water is available for the citizens. Simly Dam provides 45 million gallons of water but only 20 million gallon of water is available this year. Khanpur Dam supplies 16.5 million gallons, whereas this year only seven million gallon water is available.
Another major problem with which CDA face is nonfunctional tube wells. According to sources, there are 189 tube wells in the city that supply water to different sectors and surrounding areas of Islamabad. Out of which 24 tube wells are not working. The rest of them supply 29 million gallons to the whole city. CDA has 50 water supply tankers to supply water in the city.
The citizens complained that charges of these water tankers were changed previously thrice. Besides citizens alleged that the CDA water tankers were selling water under patronage of CDA Services Department taking a hefty amount of Rs 500-800 per tanker. Meanwhile CDA use to charge Rs 70 to fill half water tank of 25 to 40 gallons but CDA tanker drivers charged accordance of their will from the consumers.
Residents of different sectors of Islamabad, Fiaz Syed, Riaz Hussain, Mudasir Abassi, CDA has arranged alternative water supply tankers to meet the shortage, but it has led to increase in corruption and illegal activities such as bribery and favourtism.
Besides these water tankers do not supply water on required time. Only people with strong references get water supply on time.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk