Recent winter rain has filled all three reservoirs that supply water to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director Shaukat Mahmood told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
“With Rawal Dam, Khanpur Dam, and Simli Dam filled to the brim, the possibility of water shortage in the Rawalpindi district has been ruled out in 2021,” Mahmood said when contacted on phone regarding the water supply sitiation.
As for the garrison city, WASA MD said they could supply daily sanctioned capacity until October 31, 2021.
He said that Rawal Dam can store 1,752 million acre feet (MAF) of water while it is currently storing 1,751.9 MAF.
Similarly, Khanpur Dam having capacity of 1,982 MAF of water is holding 1,980 MAF. Simli Dam too is filled to the brim and its spillways would be opened if there is more rainfall.
Mahmood said that rain in the catchment areas was bringing more water into the reservoirs making it necessary to open the floodgates in the coming week. Moreover, the rains have replenished the groundwater too and all tube wells were operational at the moment.
He added that downpours during December and January would not only fill dams further increase the underground water level.
WASA MD said that they would soon start the water supply line project from Chuhan Dam to Rawalpindi while working on Daducha dam would start next year too to fulfil the water needs of metropolitan city. He confirmed that there was no threat of water shortage in summers next year.
While the WASA managing director gave news of abundant water supply, the issue of water theft leaves little for the citizens.
Sources said that although the twin cities, along with the Potohar region, had received abundant rain during the 2020 monsoons, people remained hostage of tanker mafia for water supply.
The tanker mafia is pilfering water worth millions daily as it has established illegal hydrants along the banks of Soan River and adjoining areas.
The basic amenity is sold at exorbitant rates in the newly established housing societies which have no water supply system.
The tanker mafia has installed huge suction pumps to obtain fresh river water which is later sold expensively. The pilferers have dug deep boreholes to extract fresh underground water too.
During summers, the rate of a water tanker storing 1,000 litres is between Rs1,200 and Rs1,500. The tankers with more capacity are sold for up to Rs3,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2020.
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