ISLAMABAD: Islamabad is facing a severe water crisis as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) faces severe shortages and operational disruptions in its water supply infrastructure.
As per the media report, the CDA Water Supply Directorate has only one month’s stock of chlorine left, raising fears that water supply will be completely cut off by next month.
The situation has worsened due to the CDA’s failure to clear last year’s payment for the chlorine supply tender floated in June. As a result, contractors have refused to continue chlorinating water. Without chlorine treatment, water supply poses serious health risks, and if no emergency measures are taken, service disruptions are imminent.
The city’s existing water infrastructure is already in a state of disrepair. Out of a total of 300 tubewells managed by the CDA, 205 are reported to be out of service, many of which are beyond repair. Sources further said that CDA has defaulted over Rs. 2000 billion. 100 million payments related to tube well maintenance during the last year.
CDA’s water tanker fleet is similarly handicapped. Only 7 out of 32 water tankers are currently operational, two of which are reserved for VIP complaints.
Despite receiving about 1000 complaints daily regarding water tankers, the authority is unable to meet the demand. It has also failed to pay contractors over Rs. 50 million for tanker repair work last year.
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Residents of several major sectors including I-8, I-9, I-10, I-14, F-6, F-7, F-8, F-10, G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, Model Village, Margalla Town, Humak Town and Rawal Express Town are already facing severe shortages.
Many areas are now getting water only once every three days, as the Water Supply Directorate struggles to keep the system running amid financial defaults and short-term contracts.
