Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) launched an operation on Monday to disconnect illegal connections from the main water supply line coming from Simly Dam.

The operation is being carried out by a squad of the MCI and Enforcement Directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) with the help of Islamabad Police and local government representatives.

The decision to start the operation was communicated to the chairmen of union councils Noorpur Shahan, Malpur, Kot Hatyal South, Koth Hatyal North, Pulgaran, Pind Bagwal, Tumair. Police stations of Bhara Kaho, Nilor, Secretariat and Bani Gala are also taking part in the operation.

Currently, water shortage in Islamabad is around 50 million gallons of water per day (MGD). The city needs a total of 110 MGD while the supply is limited to 58 MGD.

The water supply to the city declined after the water level in two of the biggest reservoirs fell to dead level. At present, the water level in Simly Dam is 2,259 feet, while the water level in Khanpur Dam is at 1,927 feet. The dead level of both dams is 2,233 feet and 1,910 feet respectively.

On the other side, 48 dysfunctional tube-wells have also contributed to worsening the water crisis in the capital. Line losses are another important factor towards the water shortage in Islamabad.

Talking to Daily Times, Hadi Hussain Shah, the MCI disconnection squad head, said: “The local inhabitants living close to the main water supply line coming from Simly Dam are involved in water theft by making illegal connections. Bari Imam is the worst affected area by the problem where the main water supply line passes through illegal settlements.”

“It is difficult for us to disconnect illegal water connections by going inside houses and Kachi Abadis. Residents reestablish these connections once the operation is over.”

“Our teams are working and we disconnected several connections today (Monday). There were more than 50 illegal water connections made into the main line,” he added.

Sources inside the MCI said that the operation had been halted due to the interference of elected representatives, chairmen, vice chairmen and union councils members. “They tried to save their supporters,” sources said.

Islamabad Deputy Mayor Azam Khan, who heads the water committee, rejected the claims. “The operation will be carried out without any discrimination as illegal connections from the main supply line waste water.”

“We are also working to repair dysfunctional tube wells and to minimise the line losses. We want to enhance the supply of drinking water to the capital,” he said.