PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has demanded Rs 64.62 billion from the Punjab government on the issue of water supply from Galiyat to Murree, which has created a new dispute at the inter-provincial level.
According letter sent by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to the federal and Punjab governments has taken the position that there is already a severe shortage of water in the Galiyat area, but despite this, the Murree Water Board is obtaining about 500,000 gallons of water daily without any formal agreement and financial compensation.
The letter further states that due to this situation, the local population is facing a water crisis, therefore, the ongoing work on the supply infrastructure of the Murree Water Board and the construction of a 2-million-gallon water tank in Donga Gali should be stopped immediately.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also appealed to the federal Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination to play a role in concluding a formal agreement on this issue between the two provinces so that in future water supply can be done under a clear legal framework.
On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam has taken the stand that the Punjab government should immediately pay the dues, because according to him, since the establishment of Pakistan, Galiyat water has been continuously being used for Murree.
He added that Punjab has been asked through the federal ministry to also ensure alternative water management for Murree so that the problem of water shortage in both regions can be resolved.
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