Rawalpindi
Gawalmandi with a large population is facing plethora of problems, which needs immediate attention of the concerned civic body, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, to rid the inhabitants of this area from hardships due to non-availability of basic facilities.
The foremost above all problems which persist in Gawalmandi is acute shortage of water. Like other parts of Cantonment, citizens of Gawalmandi are too facing problem of water scarcity since the start of summer this year. Though there is a big and famous reservoir of water (Kali Tanki) to store water, however the inhabitants of this area are still deprived off this facility.
According to the residents, before the advent of summer season this year, they have been receiving water in abundance but the situation is different now. Throughout the day, the dwellers are getting water through Kali Tanki once and that too for one hour which is insufficient for the people.
The people of the this area alleged that the pipelines on which millions of rupees were spent were connected to Kali Tanki with Khanpur Dam and it was ensured by the RCB that there would be no dearth of water in Gawalmandi. However, the tall claims are being proved false as problem of acute shortage of has aroused in this locality over the last three months. Similarly, the condition of tube wells is also not satisfactory and seems to have developed fault causing acute water shortage.
The residents alleged that another reason behind water scarcity in Gawalmandi and other areas could be closure of water supply from Sangjani Plant as the civic body has to clear liabilities of what they claimed Rs2 billion.
Besides water problem, the condition of cleanliness system is also poor. Though the RCB has laid special priority in improving cleanliness system but a surprise visit by the Cantonment Executive Officer, Dr. Saima Shah to Gawalmandi on any day would negate all the tall claims of the civic body, the citizens of this area alleged. The sanitation staff is never seen to perform their duties related to lifting garbage and wastages seen littered everywhere besides cleaning the street and road outlets (small nullahs). Special attention is needed on the part of concerned staff to improve the overall condition of cleanliness and drainage system in Gawalmandi, the residents stressed.
Similarly, the condition of streetlights is also not satisfactory. At night complete darkness prevails in the entire area because of non-functioning of streetlights. Because of all these basic grievances, the people of Gawalmandi are living in miserable condition. They have appealed to the Station Commander of RCB as well as CEO to take immediate and serious notice into the matter and direct the concerned officials and staff for adopting measures for rectifying the problems existing in Gawalmandi.
When this correspondent approached Munir, official of water section in RCB, he admitted that problem of water shortage exist in Gawalmandi. However, he said that tenders have been floated in the press inviting bids for installation of new tube well in Gawalmandi in shortest possible time. Funds have been allocated for water network in the current budget . With the installation of new tube wells, the situation of water supply will improve in next couple of months. He also admitted that due to shortfall of rains and dry weather over the last one year, level of water in Khanpur Dam fell causing problem of water supply this year. The level of underground water has also fallen considerably due to which supply of water through tube wells gets affected. Power loadshedding further aggravates the situation in supplying of water smoothly. Now as the monsoon season has started and heavy rains are occurring, situation of water in dams would improve. Through this way the civic body would be in a position to supply water in normal manner, the official said.
However, secretary, Qaisar Mahmood who is also media coordinator did not agree to the claims of the inhabitants related to pathetic condition of cleanliness, According to him, the Sanitation Incharge, Waris Bhatti deputes staff on regular basis directing them to visit each and every ward to ascertain the overall condition of cleanliness. On finding garbage besides other wastages sanitation staff immediately responds by lifting it. Similarly work on cleaning small nullahs is also done. However, he assured to take up the complaints of the residents seriously and adopt further measures to remove their complaints on Monday and this process would continue on other days as well.
He said funds are allocated for improving streetlights system. Technical faults development in electrical appliances are also being removed, he added ensuring to start work on streetlights improvement within next few weeks.
