CDA Proposes Changes in Bylaws to Address Water Shortage in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The city managers have been struggling to meet the residents’ basic needs, including sufficient water supply as the population of Islamabad has surged from 800,000 to over two million people since 2008.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been unable to meet the daily water needs of the city due to a shortage in routine supply.

As a result, residents are forced to purchase water from private operators. The available water resources are falling short of meeting the daily needs of the residents, especially during the summer season, as the population has grown to 150% during the last 15 years.

Islamabad’s main water sources are Simli and Khanpur dams, which depend on rainfall and melted snow in catchment areas.

However, the CDA had neglected this issue for decades, and no new sources of water have been explored since the construction of the Khanpur dam in the 1990s.

Experts warn that if this situation continues, Pakistan will soon become a water-scarce country.

To address the issue, the CDA has recommended changes in existing bylaws, proposing the construction of recharge wells for rainwater harvesting to replenish the city’s groundwater resource.

The suggested amendments would make it mandatory for all homeowners to construct recharge wells alongside already constructed water tanks.

This would ensure water storage and recharge the water table, helping to reduce the depletion rate.

However, experts believe that solely depending on rainwater harvesting or constructing recharge wells is not enough. There is a dire need to change the water usage habits of people.

According to a water expert, the groundwater level in Islamabad has gone down from 50 feet to 500 to 600 feet since the city was built.

This has given rise to the rapid growth of tanker mafias who exploit needy people by charging exorbitant amounts for water.

Many have to wait for hours for water, while others get ample water for activities such as floor cleaning, car washing, and gardening, which is not justified.

The CDA Deputy Director General (Water) Sardar Khan Zimri acknowledged the situation’s gravity and proposed amendments to the bylaws.

He also stated that charging those who consume water rampantly at the same rate as those who use less water can help reduce wastage.

This discriminatory approach needs to be shunned to facilitate consumers across the board. Unless urgent measures are taken, Islamabad will continue to face a severe water crisis, and Pakistan will slip into the category of water-scarce countries.