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SWABI, July 25: It is a pity to see, in this 21st century, women in mountainous Gadoon Amazai region of the district carrying pitchers on their heads to fetch drinking water from far-flung areas.
“We have been facing this problem since our ancestors decided to settle in this region,” residents told this scribe during a visit to the remote area. They said that the small quantity of water they got after hectic efforts was also contaminated.
The locals said that Gadoon was known for poppy cultivation but in 1987 law-enforcement agencies launched an operation to destroy the crop. “Seven persons were killed in the operation. After that the first government of late Benazir Bhutto established Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate,” they recalled.
They said that Gadoon Estate was already at the brink of collapse and it couldn’t benefit locals.
“The industrialists have brought all technical workers from Punjab province. Majority of unskilled workers also belong to
Punjab,” they added.
The main water supply line of Gadoon was laid from Utla village to various areas. “Natural springs supply water to streams from where water connection has been taken,” they said.
The residents of the region said that springs never dries up due to linkage of Utla with the famous Mahaban Mountain. In winter usually snow falls in the region and the snow-caped Mahaban peaks can be seen even from any corner of the district.
The winter snowfall help the springs to run round the year.
However, locals said that domestic and wild animals, tree leaves, landslide and wastes were polluting and contaminating the water of springs and streams. “The water is not fit for human consumption, however, we can’t go to other areas to get potable water,” said Salam Pur, a resident of Snadwa locality.
In some areas water is so contaminated that it is difficult to drink it. “We have no other option. Our women fetch this contaminated water in pitchers from far-off areas,” locals said.
They said that some families migrated to Topi city and other areas after their members got jobs in public or private sector.
The main reason behind their migration was shortage of potable water, they said.
They alleged that common people were suffering as influential persons were provided direct connections from the main supply line. Even supply of contaminated water was stopped on a number of occasions when some politicians did not allow its flow from Utla owing to internal wrangling, they added.
Had the American aid for development of the area after poppy eradication been properly utilised, there would have been no shortage of drinking water, said Amid Ali, a resident of Utla.
“The government left the locals high and dry once it achieved its objective of poppy eradication,” he added.
The locals also criticised politicians for ignoring them. “None of the elected representatives have made serious efforts to resolve the problem of water shortage. During elections they make tall claims but forget the same when they get elected,” said
a teacher of the area.
“We have been facing this problem since our ancestors decided to settle in this region,” residents told this scribe during a visit to the remote area. They said that the small quantity of water they got after hectic efforts was also contaminated.
The locals said that Gadoon was known for poppy cultivation but in 1987 law-enforcement agencies launched an operation to destroy the crop. “Seven persons were killed in the operation. After that the first government of late Benazir Bhutto established Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate,” they recalled.
They said that Gadoon Estate was already at the brink of collapse and it couldn’t benefit locals.
“The industrialists have brought all technical workers from Punjab province. Majority of unskilled workers also belong to
Punjab,” they added.
The main water supply line of Gadoon was laid from Utla village to various areas. “Natural springs supply water to streams from where water connection has been taken,” they said.
The residents of the region said that springs never dries up due to linkage of Utla with the famous Mahaban Mountain. In winter usually snow falls in the region and the snow-caped Mahaban peaks can be seen even from any corner of the district.
The winter snowfall help the springs to run round the year.
However, locals said that domestic and wild animals, tree leaves, landslide and wastes were polluting and contaminating the water of springs and streams. “The water is not fit for human consumption, however, we can’t go to other areas to get potable water,” said Salam Pur, a resident of Snadwa locality.
In some areas water is so contaminated that it is difficult to drink it. “We have no other option. Our women fetch this contaminated water in pitchers from far-off areas,” locals said.
They said that some families migrated to Topi city and other areas after their members got jobs in public or private sector.
The main reason behind their migration was shortage of potable water, they said.
They alleged that common people were suffering as influential persons were provided direct connections from the main supply line. Even supply of contaminated water was stopped on a number of occasions when some politicians did not allow its flow from Utla owing to internal wrangling, they added.
Had the American aid for development of the area after poppy eradication been properly utilised, there would have been no shortage of drinking water, said Amid Ali, a resident of Utla.
“The government left the locals high and dry once it achieved its objective of poppy eradication,” he added.
The locals also criticised politicians for ignoring them. “None of the elected representatives have made serious efforts to resolve the problem of water shortage. During elections they make tall claims but forget the same when they get elected,” said
a teacher of the area.
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