WASA claims ownership of water used in construction

WASA directs inspectors to conduct surveys on all under-construction buildings across city

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has officially asserted ownership of water utilised in the construction of buildings within its jurisdiction.

Notices have been issued to both ongoing and recently completed construction projects, emphasising that all water used in the development of houses, shops, plazas, and residences throughout the city belongs to WASA.

WASA has directed its field staff and inspectors to conduct surveys on all under-construction buildings, plazas, and shops across the city and promptly submit their findings. A charges recovery squad, led by Asif Bashir Tarr and comprising area inspectors, has been established for this purpose.

The special magistrate of WASA has received the lists and issued notices for the collection of charges.

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According to the magistrate, these collections will be treated as land revenue under relevant legal provisions. The notices allege the illegal use of government water in construction, citing the installation of a motor pump to utilise WASA water. Owners are required to furnish ownership documentation, map permission, and a WASA NOC for the construction site.

The charges vary based on the number of stories in a building, ranging from Rs0.4 million to Rs0.6 million. Commercial plaza and shop owners have expressed dissatisfaction and protested against these notices. They have announced their intention to challenge the notices in the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench.

The owners refuse to pay additional taxes and charges, claiming that these charges resemble “gangster taxes” and are challenging the matter in court, particularly in light of the recent surge in water bills.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2023.