Lower Dir residents want water supply restored

TIMERGARA: Residents of Rabat in Lower Dir district have been facing shortage of drinking water since long and are forced to consume contaminated water that has spread stomach diseases in the area. Farman Khan, a resident of Rabat, told The News that water supply schemes meant for the residents of Sabar Shah, Nawagai, Shahgai, Kotkay and Dherai in Rabat Union Council had been washed away by the devastating floods in 2010.

“The residents are forced to manage drinking water either from open watercourses or they arrange costly water tankers,” Farman Khan said, adding a number of residents were suffering from various water-borne diseases.“Though the government has restored the tube-well for residents of Kotkay, they have been deprived of clean drinking water due to the non-availability of main supply line,” said Sanaullah, another area resident.

He added that all natural springs in the area had run dry due to the long dry spell, which had further added to the miseries of the locals.The residents demanded the Lower Dir Public Health Department, district government and district administration to restore all water supply schemes in Rabat on war-footing.