The twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi grapple with severe water shortage as water level in Rawal and Simly dams has gone down drastically. Rawal Dam, which is under the administrative control of Small Dams Organization (SDO), an entity working under the Punjab government, supplies water to Rawalpindi city.
It used to supply water up to 23 million gallons per day but due to water crisis, the supply has gone down, an official of the authority informed to this correspondent. However, he said there is still a caution level up to 28 feet to meet the dead level which is 1708 feet.
He said the dam still has water enough to be supplied for three months if there is no rainfall but once the monsoon will start, the water level will improve to meet the demand accordingly. Rawal Lake has been one of the most famous picnic spots for families for the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. However, with lake drying up, the number of visitors has decreased.
Eid holidays saw a huge influx of people from the two cities, but due to the water scarcity in the area, it wore a deserted look. Only a few people were observed and seen roaming around on the dried patches of the lake, a development which speaks volumes about the amount of water at the once mighty dam.
Simly Dam, which is controlled by Bulk Water Management Directorate, is also facing severe water shortage. The authorities have a huge challenge at hand to meet the water supply needs of the capital as well as Rawalpindi.
Director Water Management, Capital Development Authority, Nasir Butt told this correspondent that Simly Dam's maximum water storage is 2,315 feet whereas the dead level is 2,233 feet. However, the current level of water is only 2,248 feet now. He said the authority expects that it will up to full in 10-15 showers in monsoon being set in from 1st July.
Earlier in April, Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Raja Shaukat Mehmood had said that the water storage was enough to meet the requirements till the start of monsoon season. With sources suggesting that water demand in Rawalpindi will rise to 79 million gallons daily in the next 20 years, severe water crisis will hit the city if new water sources are not built during the next 3-4 years.
Met department's prediction of monsoon starting on June 30 and pre-monsoon continuing till the start of the season, bodes well for the authorities as it will help regain water level in the lake. The authorities said that more rains are expected in the coming days and especially in the July-August period. Water from northern Pakistan will fill up the water reservoirs; however, the authorities need to use it efficiently for the residents of the twin cities.
In April last, then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced Pakistan's first National Water Policy, promising consolidated efforts to tackle the water crisis. But experts are skeptical about the authorities' will to deal with the issue. The country will hold general elections on July 25 and there is an interim government currently in place. Water crisis is a priority neither for the caretaker government nor for the political parties contesting the polls.
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