Water level in Simli, Khanpur dams drops

ISLAMABAD: A water shortage have occurred in the federal capital due to fewer winter rains. As a result, the CDA has started water rationing.

The water level in the Simli Dam is six feet lower than the last year’s level and 21 feet lower than the last year in the Khanpur Dam. Drinking water is supplied to the city of Islamabad from the two dams and partly from the Rawal Dam.

According to sources, the situation of water availability in the Khanpur Dam is alarming. At present, the water level in the dam is 1,949 feet. The highest level of the dam is 1,982 feet. Currently, the water storage in the dam is only 37.59 feet. On December 19, 2022, the water level was 1,970 feet. The daily supply of water from the Khanpur Dam to Islamabad has been reduced from ten million gallons to seven million gallons.

Sectors D-12, F-11, F-11, G-11 and G-9 are affected due to reduced water supplies from the Khanpur Dam. Four tube wells installed in the green belt have been removed due to the Eleventh Avenue. The finance wing has not yet allocated funds to the water supply wing to install new tube wells in their place. The water level in the Simli Dam is currently 2,295 feet. The maximum level of the dam is 2,315 feet. The available water storage in the dam is 67%.

Last year on December 19, 2022, the water level was 2,301 feet. The water supply to Islamabad from the Simli Dam has been reduced from 32 million gallons to 24 million gallons per day. According to CDA officials, the total daily supply of water to Islamabad is 62 million gallons, which is 78 to 80 million gallons in normal conditions. The Rawal Dam is supplying two million gallons of water while the remaining requirement is being met from tube wells. According to officials, if rains do not occur, the situation may worsen.