CBC increases water charges by 100 percent
Residents of Chaklala Cantonment Rawalpindi will now have to bear an increase of almost 1,00 per cent in water charges despite the fact that they get water on every alternate day.
The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) administration has increased monthly water charges by 100 per cent even after no guarantee of providing an uninterrupted daily supply for the residents.
Even before the onset of summer, residential and business centres in 10 wards falling in the CCB have been facing an acute shortage of water with Dheri Hassanabad, Merid Hassan, Chaklala Scheme-III, Lalazar, Tipu Road, Gulistan Colony and Lal Karti being the most hit areas.
Citizens were forced to buy water tankers at exorbitant rates as the CCB supplies water to these areas after an alternate day
Water in these wards is being supplied from tube wells, Khanpur Dam and in some areas from Rawal Dam.
On the other hand, the CCCB has increased water charges by more than 100 per cent per month. According to the new water levy, a five marla house now costs Rs300 instead of Rs200, five to seven marla from Rs300 to Rs700, Rs500 to Rs1,000 per house respectively, from Rs600 to Rs1300 per for 10 marla and 15 marla houses.
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Similarly, the water levy for 20-40 marla houses has been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 and houses of more than 40 marlas, it has been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs2,400 per month.
In case of commercial use, the monthly charges have been increased from a minimum of Rs1500 to the maximum of Rs10,000.
CCB elected representatives have strongly protested against the huge increase in water charges and termed it the exploitation of citizens. They said that there was no justification for such a huge increase in water charges despite the fact that the residents get water supply only for 15 days in a month.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2022.