DHA residents cry foul over water crisis

Residents and elected CBC men exchange heated arguments and threats at CBC office

KARACHI: A large number of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) residents protested against the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) over the prevailing water crises and the extra charge of Rs500 on each water tanker.

The residents and elected representatives exchanged heated arguments and threatened each other of dire consequences at the CBC office on Tuesday.

“We already pay annual water tax and still don’t get tap water,” said Saamia Alvi, a resident of Khayaban-e-Shahbaz. “CBC, instead of providing us water, which is their responsibility, has started getting Rs500 on each tanker. They send us threatening messages to pay otherwise legal action will be taken. When we insist that water be provided to us, CBC officials suggest that we should shift to some other place where abundant water is available.”



According to residents in many areas, there were no water lines and residents are left at the mercy of tanker services alone. “In this month, we have gotten six tankers and have to pay Rs3,000 for it,” said Mujtaba Ahmed, who has been living in Phase VI since 1998 but has not received tap water as yet.

Mrs Adeeda, a councillor of the area, told The Express Tribune that when dozens of residents reached the CBC Office, the chief executive officer asked them to leave the office instead of resolving the matter.  “We argued about water crises and overcharging in the name of tanker service and they asked us to seek judiciary’s help for relief and raise this issue in the assembly,” she said, expressing dismay over the attitude of CBC. “The residents pay annual taxes ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs50,000 and they [must] deliver the services free of charge [after that],” she said.



Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Samar Ali Khan, who has been elected from the area, said that residents have planned a protest in front of CBC Office on Thursday. He was of the view that the residents who pay the taxes have a right to demand answers about overcharging in the name of water tanker services. “They [CBC] are giving us lame excuses,” he said. “In DHA Phase VIII, the houses are built but there are no water lines. What does it mean? It is citizens’ right to be provided tap water. The CBC must set up the infrastructure and provide water to every household.”

Why the extra charges?

Aziz Soharwardi, the vice-president of CBC, said that around 1,300 houses get free of charge water in DHA and CBC has to face a deficit of Rs400 million in provision of water and recovery of water tax.  “We spend around Rs700 million on water in the entire DHA and recover only Rs300 million a year,” he said, adding that the board has decided to charge Rs500 per tanker as services delivery to fill the gap.

When asked why the 1,300 particular houses are being supplied water free of charge, he said we cannot do anything because they are influential people. He added that in the open market, the price of single water tanker ranges from Rs1,300 to Rs1,500, but CBC only charges Rs500.



Another resident, Saadia, referred to the agreement signed with the CBC and said they are already paying the water tax. “As per this agreement, CBC has to provide us tap water,” she said. “Why should we give extra Rs500 on each tanker at the cost of 1,300 influential people who don’t pay water tax?” She added that a group of residents will go to court against the CBC.