Phayalong Water Diversion Project a lifeline for drying Sakrdu

GILGIT: Teary-eyed and full of emotion, Anjuman Imamia Baltistan President Agha Baqir Al-Hussaini bowed his head in gratitude before Allah on Tuesday after the successful test run of the Phayalong Water Diversion Project.

His gesture was not just an expression of emotion, but a reflection of the year-long efforts that finally offered hope to the parched town of Skardu, marking a significant milestone in a community-driven initiative to address its water crisis.

The Phayalong Water Diversion Project, aimed at diverting Deosai water to Skardu, is a result of the relentless efforts of the local community, who came together under Agha Baqir’s leadership to address a crisis that had left the region on the brink of disaster.

For the past two years, Skardu’s primary water source, the Satpara Dam, had been drying up due to the impact of climate change, leading to severe water shortages in the area. The dam, originally completed in 2011 as part of a joint effort by the Government of Pakistan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), had once fulfilled the town’s electricity, drinking, and irrigation needs. But as the water levels dropped, the town found itself in crisis.

A Town on the Brink of Disaster

The water crisis reached a critical point in 2023, with many families unable to secure even basic drinking water. Thousands of trees and acres of crops were damaged, and bird species began to migrate. Fish ponds dried up, and drinking water became scarce as taps ran dry and springs ceased to flow. For months, the people of Skardu had struggled, making repeated appeals to the government for assistance, but little action was taken.

In response to this growing crisis, Agha Baqir Al-Hussaini stepped forward, mobilizing the local community to take matters into their own hands. He spearheaded the Phayalong Diversion Project with the help of local residents and raised millions of rupees to fund the initiative. Each household contributed Rs 20,000 to support the construction, and the project collected a total of Rs 90 million.

Success of the Test Run

The project’s test run was a major victory for the people of Skardu. The water diversion successfully funneled water into the stream leading to drying Satpara Dam, demonstrating that the community’s efforts were bearing fruit. The project, now 90% complete, is expected to be fully operational in the coming weeks, with final completion anticipated within 20 days.

The diversion channel spans 32,500 feet in length, and the project includes the construction of a 22-foot-wide road alongside the channel. Initially designed as an underground channel, the plans were later modified to an open channel to reduce costs and simplify maintenance.

The revised cost of the project stands at Rs192 million, and the community is optimistic that it will soon solve the town’s water crisis.
The success of the test run has filled the residents of Skardu with hope. Agha Baqir Al-Hussaini’s leadership and the community’s collective efforts have proven that even in the face of government inaction, people can come together to address their challenges.

On the occasion, Agha Baqir expressed his gratitude and pride during the test run, saying, “For the first time in history, the people of Skardu were desperate for even a drop of water. Our women were seen wandering, searching for water, and conflicts arose between neighbours over water shortages. It was at that moment I resolved that we would not rest until we had provided water for our people.”

He further emphasized that despite the government’s inaction, which had wasted billions on ineffective surveys over the years, this community-driven initiative had achieved what many thought was impossible.
With the successful test run now behind them, the people of Skardu look forward to the completion of the Phayalong Diversion Project. Once fully operational, the project will alleviate the severe water shortages that have plagued the town for the past two years, providing a consistent supply of drinking water and enabling the irrigation of farmland.

The project is expected to solve the town’s water problems for the foreseeable future. As Agha Baqir noted, “This spring water will ensure that there are no water shortages for the next 12 months, and our community will no longer have to suffer.”

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The initiative also serves as a reminder of the power of community action and the importance of local leadership in addressing critical challenges. The project’s success stands in stark contrast to other government-led initiatives, such as the Shatung Nullah Diversion Project, which, despite its allocation of Rs100 million under the PSDP for 2022-2023, remains stuck in paperwork with no tangible progress.