SC seeks report on installation of water metres, cameras from Punjab govt

Top court does not want to risk jobs while taking measure to save water, says Justice Bandial

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government on the installation of water meters and closed circuit cameras in the underground use of water case.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the case pertaining to tax on underground water.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the court does not want to put the jobs of others at stake while taking measures to save water.

The apex court inquired the judicial commission head Dr Ahsan Siddiqui about the appointment of representatives in the four provinces.

Siddiqui informed the bench that letters had been written to all the provinces but no one except Punjab chief secretary replied.

Justice Bandial said the remaining three provinces must appoint their representatives within two days and initiate work on water tax in light of court orders.

He observed that the biggest problem in performance of government institutions was the lack of coordination between them. He ordered for submission of report on water tax collection in the next hearing.

Justice Bandial remarked that the court wanted the implementation of its order.

Dr Ahsan Siddiqui informed the court that a five-star hotel in Lahore was consuming 2.4 million liters of water daily whereas Lahore Development Authority (LDA) was not cooperating in water tax issue.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan ordered a comprehensive report seeking numbers of water meters and closed circuit cameras installed by the Punjab government.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked if the money was started being collected as the Sindh government had issued a notification to the mineral companies regarding the imposition of Rs1 tax on one liter of underground water.

Additional Advocate General Punjab replied that the government had started collecting money.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan maintained that most attention needed to be paid to mineral water and beverage industry.

He inquired Siddiqui if water meters and treatment plants were installed and were there labs to check quality of water and sought a report on them as well.

Siddiqui informed that plants had been installed in fifty percent of the industries.

Meanwhile, environment director general claimed that the staff working in industries’ labs did not meet the required standards.

Federal government representative said that industries had concerns over a few matters.

Siddqui vowed to save the industries from excessive expenditure.

The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.