As summer approaches, Mingora faces severe water scarcity

Officials blame loadshedding for the crisis while locals say no new scheme initiated in 10 years.

SWAT:

The advent of summer has brought a multitude of problems apart from the merciless heat. Already hit by prolonged power outages, people in the suburbs of Mingora are now facing scarcity of clean water.

The crisis is getting worse with each passing day, which officials blame on severe power outages, as tube wells cannot operate without electricity.

Women and girls are bearing the maximum brunt of the shortage, as they are the ones who fetch water, usually from far-off areas.

They have to carry water in clay pots over long distances to run  their households, while other activities get sidelined.

“With no water in the pipelines, I have to carry water on my head from down the hill every summer,” said nine-year-old Bushra as she sat on a large rock with her brother near a newly-constructed water tank.

“Each round trip takes more than 30 minutes and I have to take five to 10 trips every day which is really tiring,” said the helpless child.

“We remain occupied carrying water all day which gives us no time to focus on household chores. I don’t understand why the government is bent upon making us suffer by not installing water pumps,” complained 55-year-old Zaitoon.

Some 10 years back, when Swat was not as densely populated and there was no loadshedding, the installed pipelines and water tanks were sufficient to cater to the needs of local people.

Since no new pipelines have been installed over the past decade, the current water supply is not enough to cater to the residents’ needs.

“There were only 500 houses in this village back then. We would get water twice a day for over an hour. Today, we have over 3,000 houses and we only get water for half an hour as the government has not initiated new schemes,” said Saadullah Khan, a resident of Gul Kada 2.

The Tehsil Municipal Administration, however, blames loadshedding for the aggravating crisis. According to an official, the administration is trying its best to deal with the situation by running tube wells at night. Meanwhile, locals continue to suffer.

Carrying pots full of water on his shoulder, Arshad Ali, a resident of Gul Kada 1, seemed  really infuriated by the water crisis. After a full day’s work, Ali carries water uphill everyday. “Carrying water is the worst part of my day and it really frustrates me.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2012.