WASA issued red notices to pay Rs903m
WASA workers pump out rainwater accumulated at Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi is all set to default as the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has issued red notices to the water supplier to clear outstanding dues of Rs 903 million in electricity costs.
The IESCO has issued an ultimatum that if WASA fails to clear the outstanding dues this week, the electricity supply to all tube wells will be severed.
After getting the red notices, the WASA has sought an immediate bailout package of Rs80 million from the Punjab government. According to Punjab government sources, the Punjab Finance Ministry has refused to bail out the cash-crunch WASA.
If WASA fails to pay the dues, the IESCO will carry out an operation from May 23 to cut the power supply to tube wells. According to sources, WASA authorities have begun to seek a new agreement with the IESCO to avoid default and pay the bills in instalments.
However, the IESCO has so far shown reluctance about the instalments. IESCO sources said that it has been decided to sever the power supply to WASA tube wells from May 23. The WASA Rawalpindi has around 500 tube wells. Rawalpindi will face a severe water crisis if the water supply from tube-wells were stopped.
According to sources, WASA officials have also contacted local PML-N leaders for a bailout package. Citizens Action Committee Chairman Malik Zaheer Awan said that the citizens will siege the WASA managing director's office if the water supply from tube wells was stopped.
Earlier, the IESCO cut power supply to 20 tube wells of the WASA Rawalpindi due to non-payment of outstanding dues worth millions of rupees. After the disconnection of the power supply to the tube wells, a water crisis had hit various areas of the garrison city amidst sweltering temperatures.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2022.