Staff Correspondent
DROSH: The Drosh Action Forum has urged the Deputy Commissioner of Lower Chitral to take immediate steps for the restoration of the Drosh Mega Water Supply Scheme, which serves around 40,000 residents of Drosh town.
In an application to the Deputy Commissioner, Forum President Imranul Mulk said the water supply scheme had remained severely affected by recent floods, causing serious difficulties for residents. He said consumers had at times remained without a regular water supply for up to a week.
The forum said nearly two weeks had passed since the latest flooding, but effective restoration work had yet to begin. It also raised concerns over water supply pipes reportedly lying scattered at different locations, creating uncertainty about the future of the multi-million-rupee project.
According to the forum, the scheme has repeatedly been affected during the summer and flood seasons due to weaknesses in its existing design and the installation of pipelines at vulnerable locations.
The forum stressed that temporary repairs alone would not provide a permanent solution. It called for protective measures at vulnerable points, particularly in Tarang Parsat and Shishi, to safeguard the water supply line against future floods.
The forum has called for an immediate open court chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, with representatives of the Public Health Engineering Department, district administration, elected representatives and other relevant stakeholders invited to participate.
The forum has also demanded a clear briefing for residents on the current condition of the scheme, the reasons behind the delay in restoration and the proposed rehabilitation plan.
It further called for an independent technical assessment of the scheme’s design and the reasons behind its repeated failures, saying a long-term and technically viable solution was necessary to prevent residents from facing the same water crisis every year.
The forum expressed hope that the district administration would take immediate notice of the issue and issue necessary directions to the relevant departments in the larger public interest.