Hydrants to pay ‘water conservancy’ charges
A private water tanker supplies water to residents as acute water shortage is being witnessed. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS
The Rawalpindi District Council has imposed ‘water conservancy’ charges on all hydrants, water-selling companies, private institutions, cement factories, stone crusher machines and heavy industry, using underground water for commercial purposes across the suburban areas of the district.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Rawalpindi District Council Chief Officer Kamran Khan said, millions of litres of water was being extracted from the ground and sold daily by these factories, hydrants and water companies.
“All the underground water is owned by the government,” he said. “Due to the use of underground water on a large scale, the water level is continuously decreasing, which is now reaching dangerous levels,” he added.
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According to the chief officer, “These new charges will not only increase the income of the district council but will also allow the establishment of development projects in such areas with this income.”
He said the start of development works will also employ the local people. “Under Section 21(n) of the Punjab Local Government Act 2022, the local bodies have the authority to impose these charges which is why these charges have been imposed,” he explained.According to sources, all water-selling companies, cement factories and hydrants have also been asked to submit written objections to these charges by January 3, 2024.
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In case objections are received, they will be heard openly on January 8 after which the charges will be implemented and their collection will be started.
Marriage tax
Meanwhile, the local government department has also imposed a new marriage tax on citizens. The local bodies will start collecting it in respect of marriage registration from the beginning of the New Year while the registration fee for the marriage registrar has also been increased. According to sources, marriage tax of Rs2,000 will be charged on registration after marriage while registration fee in local bodies has been increased from Rs7,000 to Rs15,000 while the renewal fee of the registrar has been increased from Rs3,000 to Rs7,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2023.