Work on water supply scheme launched

MANSEHRA: The Tehsil Municipal Administration in collaboration with the Public Health Engineering Department has initiated the execution of water supply schemes to address the water scarcity caused by the prolonged dry spell in the city and its suburbs.

“We have launched a gravity water supply scheme to meet the potable water needs of families in the city as the ongoing dry spell has worsened the already fragile water supply situation,” Tehsil Municipal Officer Mazhar Muzaffar Awan told reporters on Saturday.

He said that four water supply schemes, including the major one from Ichar Nullah, were operational, but the prolonged dry spell has significantly reduced their capacity to meet the city’s needs.

“Ichar Nullah alone pumps over 200,000 gallons daily to cater to the city’s potable water requirements, but even then it is insufficient due to the severe shortage,” Awan said.

The TMO said that a large-scale gravity water supply project worth over Rs20 billion was approved but such small schemes were essential to address the acute shortage caused by the dry spell.

“We have begun connecting the Khushala water supply scheme with an already dried source to provide water to Mohallah Khan Bahadur, Mohallah Ayub, and adjoining areas,” he added.

Awan said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati has approved the Nerbir water supply scheme for the city and its suburbs for Rs110 million.