Demand stands at 130.12 million gallons, while available supply is only 69.98 million gallons per year.
RAWALPINDI:
With the onset of summer, Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas besides Islamabad are facing an escalating water crisis as the daily water shortage has risen to 60.14 million gallons, with officials warning that the deficit is expected to widen further in the coming months.
At present, the combined daily water demand for Rawalpindi city and cantonment is 130.12 million gallons, while the available supply is only 69.98 million gallons per day.
Authorities anticipate future relief through the completion of the Chahan Dam, Daducha Dam and Cherah Dam projects, which together are expected to provide an additional 80 million gallons of water daily. However, experts warn that by the time these schemes become operational, demand will have increased further due to rapid population growth.
According to official details, long-term plans to supply 200 million gallons of water daily to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the first phase – eventually rising to 500 million gallons per day in three stages through the Ghazi Water Canal from the Indus River – have effectively remained on the shelf.
As a result, the water situation across the twin cities is becoming more and more alarming.
The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board currently requires 50 million gallons of water daily but receives only 12.78 million gallons from Khanpur Dam and tube wells, leaving a daily shortfall of 37.22 million gallons and causing severe hardship to residents.
Meanwhile, under the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Rawalpindi city’s daily water requirement stands at 70 million gallons, while the combined supply from Khanpur Dam, Rawal Dam and tubewells is only 51.5 million gallons, creating a deficit of 18.5 million gallons per day.
