RAWALPINDI: The water shortage in many cantonment areas has intensified as summer approachesin the garrison city.

Residents of Naseerabad, Chur Chowlc Siham, Allahabad, Westridge, Misrial Road, Tench Bhatta and Gowalmandi have complained that the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has turned a blind eye to the shortage of water they face.

Mohammad Khan, who lives on Misrial Road, said there has been a water shortage since the summer began, while the concerned authorities have given the issue little attention.

He said various complaints have been lodged with RCB authorities, but to no avail. Locals have even contacted the board`s water branch, but the water supply in the area has not improved.

Range Road resident Imran Hussain said people are unable to carry out daily chores without water, and are instead hiring private water tanker services which cost Rs1,200 to meet the shortage.

RCB staff told locals the water supply in their area would improve after the Khanpur Dam water supply project is completed, which willtake another year, Raja Afsar from Tench Bhatta said.

He added that he had tried to contact higherups in the RCB but was told by their staff that they were not in the office.

Mr Afsar said cantonment authorities provide water for just 20 minutes. If such a situation has arisen at the start of the summer, what will the state of affairs be in mid-June, he remarked.

Saleem Minhas from Allahabad blamed the acute shortage on the RCB, saying officials had not resolved the problems facing residents of this area. He said elected members were busy with their own work, and had left the people unattended.

Mr Minhas said the people had elected RCB members so they would resolve their problems, but in the last four years no roads had been built and there has been no improvement in the water supply.

RCB officials said the consumption of water has increased with the start of the summer, and there is a gap between demand and supply.

They said they receive just nine million gallons of water daily from Khanpur Dam, which is not sufficient to meet the rising demand, adding that the RCB is trying to provide clean drinking water to all cantonment areas.