Dera Allah Yar:The Irrigation Department’s negligence has exacerbated the water crisis in Dera Allah Yar, with canal water supplies to Jaffarabad halted, leading to dried-up canals. The absence of water supply has severely depleted reservoirs used for water supply, affecting even local reservoirs used for water storage. Concerns are growing that the city may face a severe drinking water shortage.
According to the Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering, Muhammad Kazim Luni, irrigation authorities have failed to supply water during the past three weeks. Only intermittent water supplies are being managed every alternate or third day to urban areas, instead of daily. Residents are expressing frustration amidst the scorching heat due to the lack of water supply.
The crisis has particularly impacted agricultural activities, with rice cultivation suffering due to the dry canals and depleted reservoirs. Despite continuous protests by farmers, the Irrigation Department officials have not rectified their negligence. Major canals such as Jhedir Branch, Temple Branch, Balan Branch, Bari Branch, and Mohabbat Branch have remained dry for the past one and a half months, worsening the situation.
Efforts are underway to resume water supply starting Monday under a rotational system, aimed at alleviating the crisis. However, concerns remain high that the crisis may intensify further if immediate measures are not taken to replenish water reservoirs and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
Local authorities are in constant communication with irrigation officials to expedite the process of restoring water supply and stabilizing the situation, as the region braces for potentially severe consequences of the ongoing water scarcity amidst rising temperatures.