A severe water crisis has gripped various residential sectors of the Rawalpindi Cantonment areas, forcing citizens to protest against the administration for its failure to maintain an unhindered water supply. The residents expressed deep frustration over the current supply schedule, noting that water is provided for barely 30 minutes on alternative days. They complained that this extremely short duration is completely insufficient to meet the basic daily requirements of large households, leaving water tanks empty.
Residents Blame RCB for Poor Management
Residents of Tench Bhatta informed APP that water supply was not being equally distributed, for which Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is directly responsible. They criticized the RCB administration for poor management and lack of foresight, pointing out that water scarcity has become a recurring issue during peak summer months. They stated that multiple complaints had been lodged with the concerned department, but no permanent solution was executed. The acute shortage has disrupted daily household use, severely affecting life in the densely populated area of the Cantonment.
Demands for Immediate Revision and Equitable Distribution
Affected citizens demanded an immediate revision of the supply timings and called for an equitable distribution network across all affected wards. Community representatives warned that if the administration fails to normalize the supply immediately, the residents would be left with no choice but to expand their protests outside the main administrative offices.
Health Concerns Rise Due to Lack of Clean Drinking Water
Moreover, the crisis has aggravated a parallel shortage of clean drinking water, leaving thousands of families without access to safe and potable water. The non-availability of clean water from official sources has raised serious public health concerns regarding waterborne diseases in the locality. Citizens highlighted that majority of RCB’s water filter plants were not properly managed, cleaned or accommodated. Consequently, poor residents are forced to wander through streets and neighboring domestic localities to fetch buckets of water from privately managed borewells to sustain their families.
Residents Share Personal Struggles
“We, females regularly visit a borewell dedicated by a family in neighbouring street to fetch clean drinking water,” said Sidra Safdar, a housewife. She complained that no local political leadership ever visited the area to address the issue. Aziz Ahmad, another resident of Usman Street, told that he supplies borewater to neighbors for a specific time. However, he noted that official water supply in the area is irregular and insufficient. Residents demanded the concerned authorities for immediate response.
Private Water Tanker Mafia Exploits the Crisis
Taking advantage of the situation, the private water tanker mafia has established a complete monopoly in the area, charging exorbitant rates that are far beyond the reach of low-income families. Residents complained that there is no official counter-check or price regulatory mechanism by the district administration to curb this unchecked exploitation.
RCB Officials Respond: Technical Fault Rectified
When contacted, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board officials stated that the supply disruption occurred because a major tube well in the network became dysfunctional due to a sudden technical failure. The officials assured that the technical fault has now been rectified and the tube well has been made fully functional again, adding that normal water supply across the affected Cantonment areas will be restored shortly.
