The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) during a crackdown sealed 15 illegal hydrants in Dahgal, Adiala Road and Gorakhpur areas and confiscated equipment including water motors.
According to WASA officials, water was being stolen through illegal hydrants and sold in different areas of the city through tankers. They said that these illegal hydrants were being by a powerful mafia.
They said that due to these illegal hydrants, water supply from tube wells to Adiala Jail and other areas had been affected.
The WASA Rawalpindi with the help of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and police conducted an operation against illegal hydrants and confiscated equipment including motors and pumps from the operators.
Officials said that these illegal hydrants sold dirty water to the citizens at an exorbitant price. The assistant commissioner Saddar Rawalpindi said that due to these illegal hydrants, underground water has been depleted and due to the sale of water at a commercial level, citizens were facing a shortage of water. “Under no circumstances will the owners of such illegal hydrants be allowed to supply water,” he said.
Owners are strongly instructed to register these hydrants immediately. The sale of water from illegal hydrants in the WASA jurisdiction has become a lucrative business. Fifty to 70 tankers sell water from each illegal hydrant daily, severely affecting WASA's water supply system from tube wells.
WASA sources said that illegal hydrants will be completely eliminated so that citizens get water from the water supply network.
Meanwhile, the WASA continues to clean 15 major drains passing through the densely populated areas in the city to ensure uninterrupted flow of rainwater during monsoon.
These choked drains hamper the smooth passage of rainwater causing inundation of low-lying areas during heavy monsoon rains.
WASA Managing Director Muhammad Tanveer, the WASA has already completed cleaning work on Nullah Lehi and sewerage lines across the city. The provincial government has released Rs35 million for the dredging of drains and nullahs including the Nullah Leh.
The WASA managing director said that there are 15 drains in the city, most of which fall into Nullah Leh. He said that it has been decided to start cleaning work on all the drains at the same time to complete work in less time.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2022.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ