PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has demanded payment of outstanding dues amounting to Rs64.62 billion from the Punjab government over the supply of water from Galiyat to Murree.
In a formal communication sent to the federal government and Punjab authorities, the KP government stated that the Murree Water Board has been extracting and supplying approximately 500,000 gallons of water daily from Galiyat without any agreement or compensation.
The letter stated that Galiyat itself is facing a severe water shortage, and termed the ongoing water extraction by the Murree Water Board as unauthorized.It urged the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination to facilitate an agreement between the two provincial governments for water sharing.
According to the correspondence, Punjab owes KP Rs64.62 billion in water charges dating back to 1947.The KP government also called for an immediate halt to the construction of water supply infrastructure and a 2-million-gallon water tank in Dunga Gali, allegedly being carried out without approval from the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA).
The letter demanded that ownership and control of all springs, waterfalls, and water reservoirs in the area be formally handed over to KP.It authorized the GDA to negotiate a water-sharing agreement with Punjab, proposing that until a final agreement is reached, 250,000 gallons of water be reserved for Galiyat residents, while compensation for the remaining 250,000 gallons be paid at market rates within two years.
It is noteworthy that the water supply infrastructure from Dunga Gali to Murree was originally constructed during the British colonial era.Meanwhile, KP Finance Adviser Muzzammil Aslam, speaking to Geo News, reiterated that Punjab owes approximately Rs65 billion to KP and called for immediate payment of the dues.
He added that water from Galiyat has been used for Murree since the creation of Pakistan, but climate change and population growth have exacerbated water scarcity in the region.The adviser said that groundwater is now being extracted for local residents in Galiyat, incurring significant electricity costs for the KP government and the GDA.
