Water wars: Chaudhry chides Umar for negative politics

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Asad Umar for resorting to negative politics on the water issue to gain political mileage.

Following PTI’s protest in the capital, Chaudhry held an emergency press conference along with Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz at CDA Headquarters.

Dr Chaudhry said that they had devised a strategy to overcome water shortage in the capital. He explained that due to a reduction in the inflow of water in the Simly and Khanpur Dams, water levels of these lakes had dropped. Thereby water supply to the city had fallen by 12 million gallons per day.

He added that the capital requires 72 million gallons of water per day. Of this, 53 million gallons was being supplied right now.

Simly Dam, he said, has a supply capacity of 34 million gallons per day of which only 25 million gallons were being supplied. Similarly, Khanpur Dam had the capacity of supplying nine million gallons of water, but currently, only six million gallons were being supplied.

Talking about the Ghazi Barotha project, Chaudhry said that Sindh’s reservations had been addressed and planning for the project was in its last stage. He disclosed that once complete, the Rs100 billion project would supply 200 cusec water to the twin cities.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2017.