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Gilgit Town left high and dry despite plenty of water:  By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, June 3

GILGIT: An acute water shortage has hit Gilgit Town, leaving thousands of residents affected for the past two days. The crisis-hit areas include Kashrote, Sonikote, Nagral, Jutial and Majini Mohalla, which constitute nearly 30% of the total population.

According to a rough estimate, the shortage has affected more than 10,000 people. Residents were found looking for water, carrying bottles, jerry cans and buckets.

“The taps are dry and hot as the water supply remains suspended,” said Mohammad Sadiq, a resident of Kashrote, one of Gilgit Town’s most thickly populated areas. “We are forced to drink contaminated water from the river or the ground.”

In some areas, residents are using groundwater drawn from handpumps for domestic consumptions while others fetch water from the river and nearby water channels.

But in Upper Jutial, residents seem to be deprived of both. They do not have access to groundwater as the area is high above the water table.

Moreover, the river is also at a considerable distance, making it an option which is not financially viable.

“We cannot just bring water from the river. It costs too much,” said Ejaz Ahman, a resident of Jutial.

Drinking water is nowhere to be found in Gilgit Town despite a river running through it, water channels encircling it. “There is water everywhere but not a drop for drinking,” said Ahmad Sadiq.

While residents continue to suffer because of the water shortage, government officials could not be reached over the weekend for comment.

The region’s minister for water and power, Bashir Ahmad, did not respond to his calls and messages sent on his mobile phone.

However, at a complaint cell located in Kashrote, Fazalul Haq, an official, explained one of the walls of a channel supplying water to residents has been damaged, causing a sudden suspension of drinking water.

“According to my information, repair work is underway and the supply will restore soon,” he added.http://tribune.com.pk/story/557992/water-shortage-gilgit-town-left-high-and-dry-despite-plenty-of-water/