G-13 and 14 residents to protest on water scarcity tomorrow

Islamabad:The residents of Sectors G -13 & 14 of the Federal Capital under the administration of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) are planning to hold a protest demonstration at the FGEHA office here tomorrow (Tuesday) for early completion of water supply line.

The heat wave has increased the demand for water and some residents are forced to get water supply from tankers, Residents informed ‘The News’ that both sectors are facing severe water shortage for the past many years. Some months ago, FGEHA and CDA made an arrangement through which underground tanks in G-10 are filled by 200 tankers per day and the same is shipped to G-13 and G-14. The water is supplied to households in the sectors for one hour twice a week.

In the meantime, tenders were floated to lay and complete the remaining water pipeline from Sang Jani via Shah Allah Ditta to G-13 to supply Khanpur Dam water to the adjoining sectors. The work on this Rs270 million budget project is only 33 per cent complete so far, said an elected representative of G-14. Some residents complain of tanker mafia being paid Rs700 million per year for water supply and alleged kickbacks involved as cause of the delay. Joint Working Committee, G -13, claims that FGEHA and CDA are responsible for providing water to the residents of their respective sectors. Sector G-13 and 14, I-11 and other sectors were to get water from Khanpur Dam through pipeline from Sing Jani. Rawalpindi Cantonment Board is already getting water from the same place through GT road pipeline. While CDA completed the pipelines up to G -10, the water pipeline of G -13 and G-14 was planned but the two sectors were then placed under the control of the FGEHA.

In the past, several meetings were held between CDA, Housing Authority and Residents of G-13 and G-14 on this issue and it was decided that CDA and Housing Authority will lay the pipeline in their respective areas while Housing Authority will lay the pipeline and supply the Water to G13, said a representative of JAC.