Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) despite being in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for over two and half years was yet to fulfill its commitment to provide clean drinking water to the people, even in provincial metropolis where majority of population is forced to drink contaminated water. An official of Water Supply and Sanitation Project (WSSP) on condition of anonymity revealed that the cur-rent water supply through water tap was not healthy for human consumption in Peshawar as 35 out of 45 samples of the tab water were found unhygienic in the laboratories tests. Over hundreds of such samples of tab water have been sent to PCSIR lab for testing and the results were still awaited, he informed and said that water supply to villages located near banks of River Kabul in Chief Minister KP home constituency was not even fit for human consumption and required immediate attention of the Government. Nasir Ghafoor General Manager WSSP when contacted said that though tab water was not fit drinking purpose but the sources of water extracted were found of good quality in Peshawar and fit for consumption. He maintained that illegal connections from main water lines and rusted pipes were the main causes of water supply pollution. Fahim Durrani, GM WSSP Zone-B of Peshawar told APP that out of 65000 residential blocks and housing units, 30000 persons were using water legally while remaining 35000 were getting water supply through illegal means, causing damage to main supply line besides contamination of water. “Most of galvanized (GI) underground pipes are rusted and even outdated in Peshawar and needed immediate replacement,” he said, adding the GI pipes rust after six years due to various reasons. He said at least Rs one billion would be required for replacement of the outdated pipes besides strengthening of water infrastructure programmes in Peshawar. Dr Sher Ali, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Lady Reading Hospital told APP that use of contaminated water was the major cause of fatal diseases including Hepatitis B and C, besides polio, cholera and diarrhoea and advised people to boil drinking water before use. Faridullah Khan, Twon-II Nazim when contacted said clean drinking water was merely a dream for residents of Peshawar as they were being forced to drink contaminated water since long. He said most of the tube-wells were lying non-operational for a long time and the government employees ap-pointed to operate these tube wells were just getting salaries. The closure of tube wells is not only affecting local population to get quality drinking water but also agriculture output, he added. The Town-II Nazim said five tube wells at each union council of his constituency were needed to fulfill the drinking water demand. The official sources informed that gigantic Warsak Dam and Bara Dam projects planned to bring water to Pe-shawar have been put into cold storage despite the fact that the two projects were feasible and workable to bring quality water for people of Peshawar. Engineer Rashidullah Khan, Municipal Officer told APP that water table in Peshawar has dropped as quality clean drinking water was now available at a depth of 500 feet and needs the attention of PTI Government. He said tube-wells are inexpensive option to get water from underground as the traditional hand pump were no more effec-tive. He said most of the houses in Peshawar are without underground water tanks due to which the water wastage is comparatively higher thus causing burden on government exchequer. Engr Rashid when asked said that Warsak and Bara Dams were best options from engineering point of view and if completed would not only address issue of contaminated water but also provide quality drinking water to the people. Nasir Ghafoor GM WSSP said that feasibility study and work on design to bring water from Jabba Dam to Peshawar was under process and upon completion of the project would address the water issue to a great extant. To a question, he maintained that huge funds were required to bring water from Munda and Bara Dams.—APP