RAWALPINDI: Station Commander Rawalpindi and President Cantonment Board, Brigadier Salman Nazar on Friday visited Khanpur dam inspect the ongoing dredging work of the Khanpur dam canal.
On the occasion, Rawalpindi Cantonment Executive Officer, Imran Gulzar, Senior Engineer Attique, officers of Water and Sanitation Agency, Capital Development Authority and other officers concerned were present.
The Station Commander was briefed about the ongoing dredging work. Brigadier Salman Nazar also visited Sang-Jani Filtration Plant. President Cantonment Board expressed satisfaction over the pace of the work and appreciated performance of the authorities concerned.
Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment boards had urged the residents to use water judiciously in their daily routine to avoid shortage as water supply to Cantt and city areas from Khanpur dam has been decreased due to annual canal de-silting project.
According to RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood, the Khanpur dam canal de-silting project started on Feb 14, would be completed till Feb 21 while the water supply to the residents would normalize during Feb 23 to Feb 25.
The supply of water from Khanpur Dam to Rawalpindi city and the cantonment areas has been reduced due the project, leading to a shortage of water in many localities.
He said, the decrease in water supply can create problems for the board, which was already getting less than the sanctioned quota of water from Khanpur Dam.
He said the board was trying to meet water demand through tube wells. The board supplies water from the Khanpur Dam to Chor, Masrial Road, Peoples Colony, Tench Bhatta, Kiani Road, Dhoke Chaudharian, Afshan Colony and other areas where the residents have made complaints about the short supply of water.
RCB had to supply water through water tanks, he said adding, water from tube wells were being supplied to the residents by running them over time.
To a question he said that RCB has been effectively pursuing its plan to avert water shortage and ensure steady water supply to the residents.
Similarly, Secretary CCB urged the residents not to waste water and use it judiciously as the board is facing water shortage due to annual Khanpur canal de-silting project.
He said, efforts were being made to supply water to the residents through tube wells.
According to WASA spokesman, Rawalpindi was only being supplied four million gallons per day (MGD) of water instead of the regular supply of 9.40 MGD during the annual silt cleaning of the open water channel from Khanpur Dam which started from February 14.
According to Managing Director (MD), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Raja Shoukat Mehmood, the project was creating a shortfall of 5.40 MGD of water in Rawalpindi.
He asked the citizens to use water judiciously as Rawalpindi was only being supplied four MGD of water instead of the regular supply of 9.40 MGD, 70% less.
He urged the residents to avoid washing floors and cars, watering their lawns every day, and store water to avoid facing difficulties.
WASA was taking measures to ensure supply from bowsers and tube wells to fulfill the needs of the locals, he added.
The reduced water supply may affect many areas including Pir Wadhai, Khyban-e-Sir Syed, Dhoke Matkaal, Shamsabad, Iqbal Town, Muslim Town Sadiqabad and some of parts of Satellite Town, he added.
He informed that water supply would be restored after completion of the project.
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