Groundwater fast depleting in garrison city

Illegal hydrants continue to extract water as admin turns blind eye to illegality

RAWALPINDI:

The groundwater level in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment has rapidly been depleting due to activities of illegal water hydrants.

The groundwater level has fallen to almost 700 feet from 600 feet a year ago.

The sale of water to residents through illegal hydrants hooked into dozens of illegal tube wells in various areas including on the banks of Swan River in Rawalpindi has been going on with impunity as the local administration has turned a blind eye to the blatant violation and illegality.

An official warned that millions of borings and wells were likely to be dried up in the summer as there was not enough water in reservoirs and dams supplying water to the twin cities.

The WASA senior officer said that the illegal business of water was growing with an alarming proportion in Rawalpindi. The administration and related institutions seemed to look helpless before the water mafia.

Private tankers continue to sell water from these hydrants to new housing societies in the city and Cantonment areas around the clock with per tanker costing up to Rs6,000, depending on the distance from the illegal hydrants to the intended area.

Surprisingly, dozens of transformers have also been installed near these hydrants to supply uninterrupted electricity to the illegal hydrants connected to tube wells.

Illegal hydrants have been installed in Cantonment areas, suburbs and on the bank of River Swan, from where water is being supplied further in tankers.

Citizens of the garrison city were compelled to purchase tanker water at exorbitant costs.

The official said that the illegal water business was ongoing with impunity in areas such as Chakri Road, Adiala Road, Girja Road, Misryal Road, Chakra, Sadiq Abad, Gulzar E Quaid, Dhamyal, Dhok Syeddan, Dhok Chauhdrian, People’s Colony, Tench, Harley Street, Lal Kurti, Tali Mohrri and other areas.

The WASA official further said that the launching of new water schemes was the only solution to get rid of the water mafia and illegal hydrants. He said that the government of Punjab should focus on the construction of small dams including the Dadocha Dam in Rawalpindi.

Although the government claims to own the underground water reserves, in reality, the tanker mafia makes a profitable business through these illegal hydrants.

Starting from the banks of the Swan River, the network of this illegal business extends to areas as far as Morgah, Gulraiz, Gulistan Colony, Lalazar and adjoining private housing societies in city and Cantonment areas.

Owing to the illegal extraction of water, underground water reserves are rapidly tumbling. Citizens are compelled to buy the commodity at an exorbitant price as the government has failed to ensure water supply through its networks.

All allied departments including the Water and Sanitation Agency seem to be helpless in front of the influential tanker mafia connected to the illegal business.

The citizens, who are already suffering from hyperinflation, have demanded of the authorities concerned that they should be supplied water through government networks to get rid of buying the basic commodity at an unaffordable and high price.

Residents of Gulistan Colony, Jahangir Shah, Malik Javed, Tanveer Shah, Khuram, Raja Basharat, Aijaz Shah and others said that there is a severe shortage of water in their area. They also said that the Chaklala Cantonment Board has also failed to ensure water supply to various areas in its jurisdiction, forcing residents to buy water from private tankers at a high cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2023.