Allah Nawaz Khan
In the Khattak Belt areas of Mianwali district in Punjab, there is a severe shortage of water. The residents of Khattak Belt are desperate for water, a basic necessity of life. This water problem is not new, it is very old, but it has never been resolved.
The mountains of Khattak Belt are rich in valuable minerals, which are being extracted and sold at high prices. Regrettably, this region has also been deprived of royalty from these minerals. If the royalty had been spent on Khattak Belt, this area would have been developed by now. Leaving aside other facilities, even the basic necessity of water is not available to the people here.
Another issue related to water scarcity is that the groundwater is highly saline and not fit for drinking. Even to obtain saline water, very deep wells have to be dug. The people here depend entirely on rainwater. Rainwater is collected in ponds and small reservoirs (johars).The water in these johars and ponds is extremely muddy and contaminated.The local people are forced to drink this dirty water.
The tragedy is that the same ponds and reservoirs are used by animals for drinking, and humans are compelled to drink the same water. Animals urinate in these ponds, and other impurities also mix into the water, making it extremely harmful. Drinking such water frequently leads to the spread of various diseases. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, and jaundice are common here.
The water problem becomes even more severe during summer because demand increases significantly in hot weather. Some well-off individuals buy water at a high price, but the majority remains deprived of clean water. Most people are forced to travel to distant areas to fetch water. Small children and women have to carry water from far-off places. Donkeys are often used (as transport) to bring water. Adults are seen abandoning their work to fetch water, while small children miss school and wander in search of water.
Due to the acute water shortage, the agriculture sector is also badly affected. Because of low rainfall, crop yields are poor. The collected water runs out quickly because not enough is stored. The ponds and reservoirs can be deepened to store more water. In addition to deepening, it is essential to cover them so that dirt and pollution do not enter the water.
The government should make proper arrangements for filtration so that clean drinking water is available to the citizens. Tube wells should also be installed for saline water, as it can be used for agriculture and other needs. Small dams should be constructed immediately.Water can also be brought from the river.Pipelines can supply water from areas where it is sweet to the residents here. Some areas already have old water supply scheme lines that can be repaired immediately and put back into use.
Filtration of water is very important for health protection, as the health situation here is also very serious. Some time ago, a project named “Khattak Belt Water Project” was initiated, but it failed. Corruption, lack of funds, and political interference are blamed for its failure. Had this project succeeded, it would have provided water to more than 80% of the population of Khattak Belt. Work on this project can still be restarted.If that is not possible, a new large-scale project should be launched.
A philanthropist from the area, Aftab Ahmed Khan, is continuously making efforts to address the water shortage. For many years, he has been freely supplying water tankers to the areas of Khattak Belt facing severe water scarcity. His efforts are highly appreciated throughout the region. He spends hundreds of thousands of rupees every month on water supply, covering expenses such as fuel for the tankers, driver salaries, and vehicle maintenance.
If one individual is making such efforts, why is the government not doing anything? Billions of rupees are earned from the mountains of this area, yet why is nothing being done for water availability?
It is the right of the citizens to be provided with clean water. Supplying clean water is a basic constitutional responsibility of the government. The United Nations also recognized water as a human right in 2010, under which the state is obligated to provide clean water to every citizen. Depriving people of this basic right is extremely unfortunate.
Providing water to all areas of Khattak Belt is difficult but not impossible. Billions of rupees are spent on various luxuries; if even a portion of these funds is allocated here, water availability can be ensured. This is not a small project but a very large one, and it cannot be completed without government support.
Until water reaches everyone without discrimination, water should be supplied through tankers.Water is a basic right, and depriving the people of Khattak Belt of this right is deeply regrettable.
