ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has prepared a short term plan to end water scarcity issue in capital city by utilising resources in hand, it was informed by the Chief Metropolitan Officer (CMO), Salman Khan Warraich. After concluding an urgent meeting held in his office regarding water shortage, Mr. Warraich addressed a press conference here at the conference room of the CDA head office. He briefed: “Currently, citizens are facing a shortage of 75 million gallons per day (mg/d) as the daily need is 125 mg while supply is only 50 mg.” While sharing the water management plan of MCI, he explained that there were three core sources of water supply in Islamabad, Simly Dam, Khanpur dam and 192 tube wells. CMO stated that the optimum water supply from Simly Dam is 39 mg/d while the existing supply is only 25 mg/d and the installed volume of water supply from Khanpur Dam is 16 mg/d while the current supply is limited to 8 mg/d,” The installed capacity of water supply from Khanpur Dam is 16 mg/d while the current supply is limited to 8 mg/d,” Mr. Sulman said that by adding that three motors were installed at Khanpur Dam in 1998, but only one motor is currently operational as one motor had been non-functional since 2002 and the other one is out of order since 2015. He informed that the last operational motor is being run 20 hours daily instead of eight hours per day. “The 192 tube wells are the third source of water supply in the federal capital of which 120 are functional and 72 are out of order,” the CMO said and spelt that bores of 10 to 12 tube wells were worn out while remaining 60 tube wells could supply only 32 mg/d but the current water supply from these tube wells was only 8 mg/d. Contrary to a recent study conducted by NESPAK indicated around 33 per cent loss of water in the domestic water supply system, the CMO indicated only 15 per cent water. The major loss is associated due to leaky pipelines, breakage and faulty control systems (valves, etc.) and other losses. He informed further that 16 out of 33 water tankers were functional, however; he said that on the directions of the Mayor of Islamabad, 13 water tankers would be included in the fleet after necessary repair and maintenance within three days. More tankers would be added in the fleet from other wings of the CDA and the MCI to increase the number of water tankers to 35. To address the complaints of water supply, he informed that water tankers from the Sanitation Directorate and Environment Wing would be used after evening time if needed. Chief Officer, MCI, Muhammad Suleman Khan Warraich, informed that a Complaint Cell had been made functional to address timely complaints about water. Mr. Warraich informed that the prevailing water crisis arose in Sector I-9, I-10 and G Series that is why attention is being given to these areas of the city. He informed that initially this plan had been chalked out for one week, which would be implemented to cope with the emergency situation. However, he further informed that work on a long-term policy would continue and measures would be taken after the availability of funds. Chief Officer, MCI, Muhammad Suleman Khan Warraich said that the problems of the residents were being resolved within the available resources, however; he appealed to the residents of the city to avoid the wastage of water and extend their hands for cooperation with the MCI to overcome the shortage of water. During the briefing, Deputy Mayor Riffat Javed and chairmen of different union councils were also present.