Two-week drought: Residents to block roads against water shortage

Villagers in Banda Phagwariyan give dept two-day deadline to restore supply.

ABBOTTABAD:

Residents of Banda Phagwariyan village threatened to protest if the water supply to their area is not restored within two days.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, villagers Ehsan Khan, Nawazish and Sikandar said the supply to the village, which has a population of over 12,000 people, was suspended two weeks ago. The lack of water for drinking and other domestic use resulted in a crisis, they said, forcing children to carry water on their heads from far-flung areas. Villagers have been forced to go to mosques to maintain hygiene, causing the water tanks there to run dry as well.



They said the Public Health Engineering department was approached several times but they failed to correct the problem, depriving villagers of their basic right and needs. Threatening to take out a protest rally and block routes, the villagers gave authorities a deadline which lapses after two days.

When approached for comments, Public Health Engineering official Hafeez said the water supply lines have been damaged at several places. A shortage of funds remains the reason why these were not repaired, added Hafeez. The department has, however, made arrangements for fixing the issue which will ensure supply to the village within a couple of days.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2014.