Rising heat amplifies water crisis

As temperatures begin to rise with the onset of warm weather, residents of Rawalpindi's Cantonment areas continue to grapple with a long-standing water crisis that shows little sign of abating. Despite repeated appeals and mounting frustration, the promised underground water reservoir project by the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) remains incomplete, further aggravating the situation.

The crisis is particularly severe in areas like Ahmadabad, where water supply from RCB has reportedly been non-existent for decades. Residents have been forced to rely either on rapidly depleting underground water or turn to private water tankers, which often charge exorbitant prices for basic water needs.

Anjum Nawaz, a resident of Ahmadabad, shared his distress, saying, "There has been no supply from the RCB water lines for years. The underground water level has significantly dropped, and private tanker operators are exploiting the situation by inflating prices. We are forced to pay between Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 per tanker, and even then, the quantity of water is less than what's promised."

Sadia Tehreem, a schoolteacher living in the same locality, echoed similar concerns. "We have contacted the authorities multiple times, but our pleas have gone unheard. Water is a basic necessity, and the lack of it has caused many families to relocate. Women and children can often be seen carrying water from distant areas - a heartbreaking and exhausting task."

The psychological toll of the ongoing crisis is also evident. Shakeel Ahmed, another resident, described the emotional strain caused by the lack of water. "It's mentally torturing. I have to travel to areas like Harley Street just to collect a few buckets of water. Even there, the supply is uncertain. It's a daily battle that has worn me down," he said.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board claims to be taking steps to alleviate the issue. Nasim Akhtar, Assistant Cantonment Engineer at RCB, revealed that the construction of a large underground water reservoir in Ghazi Abad - which had been halted due to unspecified reasons - is set to resume. "We understand the urgency and are committed to completing the project as soon as possible. The reservoir, with a capacity to store 200,000 gallons of water, will serve areas including Ahmadabad and its surroundings through existing supply lines," he said.

Akhtar further clarified that RCB has not been charging residents in severely affected areas due to the lack of regular supply. "We are not billing residents in areas where water is not being provided consistently. Our focus right now is on resolving the issue at its root." Water for the planned reservoir will be sourced from Kanpur Dam, and once operational, the tank is expected to significantly reduce dependency on private water suppliers.

However, residents remain sceptical and have urged the RCB to conduct a thorough on-ground survey to assess the severity of the crisis and take immediate remedial action.

With additional input from APP