Due to a severe water shortage, private water tankers and hydrants are operating illegally in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which has led to an alarming rise in illegal water trade. An unlicensed commercial tube wells mafia and this burgeoning illicit industry have been given room to grow as attempts to control it have failed.
In the Twin Cities, there are currently hundreds of operational tankers and fire hydrants without permits. Local agencies like the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) must regulate these activities right away. Due to severe water shortages, the illegal water trade has unfortunately become a necessity for locals, with a single tanker costing between Rs. 2,200 and Rs. 2,500.
In Islamabad, CDA is in charge of providing water to residents, and WASA is in charge in Rawalpindi. However, due to a lack of resources, both are having trouble. While WASA depends on Rawal Dam and its tube wells, CDA primarily uses Simly Dam and its tube wells. Groundwater has been severely depleted as a result of the unchecked expansion of illegal fire hydrants.
The CDA disconnected 40 unauthorised water supply connections as a result of the circumstance. However, the top official of the Islamabad District Administration pointed out that stopping private tanker services would leave hundreds without water, highlighting the duty of the state to supply this fundamental need.
The Rawalpindi district administration echoed a similar sentiment when it formed a committee to address illegal hydrants and provide clean water to residents at affordable rates, in accordance with a high court order from the previous year. The committee’s work has not yet started, though.
Umer Farooq, a spokesman for WASA, confirmed that the organisation had surveyed the area and discovered 59 illegal water hydrants that would be made legal. A committee to decide on water tanker fees was also established by the district administration. The agency’s primary goal is to use these hydrants to provide the public with high-quality drinking water.
