Capital authorities told to cut illegal water connections

Umar seeks strict legal action against culprits

ISLAMABAD: With residents of the federal capital facing an acute shortage of clean drinking water in the sweltering summer months, a federal minister has directed the city authorities to cut all illegal water connections on the main supply pipeline and to take strict legal action against the culprits.

This was directed by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Monday as he chaired a meeting to review the progress made in improving the supply of water in the federal capital, especially in sectors I-8 and I-10.

During the meeting, the Chief Municipal Officer of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) appeared and briefed participants about the steps taken in recent weeks to address the issue of water shortage in the city.

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She said that one of the key issues, leakages along the main conduction line from Poonan Faqeeran to Sector I-10/1 and on the Simly water Conduction lines, have been fixed.  Additionally, the municipal department is working on elevating the distribution channel (I-9) of the mainline from Poonan Faqeeran to Sector I-10 for the improved flow of water.

She said that other measures taken to improve the provision of water in the federal capital included the rehabilitation of water filtration plants installed across the city to provide the public with clean drinking water. Furthermore, she said that they had repaired existing tube-wells, while new ones had also been installed.

To transport water across the city, she said that dysfunctional water tankers of the IMC have been repaired.

It was also informed that action is being taken against illegal water connections.

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The CMO went on to assure the minister that through these measures, the water supply situation in the federal capital will substantially improve by the end of the ongoing month.

At this, Umar directed the authorities to immediately remove all illegal connections and take strict legal action against the culprits.

He said that work on various initiatives to improve water supply should be expedited, adding that sufficient funds have been made available. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2020.