CCB rolls back water, commercial fee hike

The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) administration has withdrawn the 50 to 70 per cent increase in water supply and commercial conservancy charges following strong opposition from elected members.

A revised tariff notification has been issued, though the threefold rise in residential conservancy charges remains in place.

Monthly water supply charges for mosques and religious institutions have been reduced from Rs12,000 to Rs500.

According to sources, after consultations with Vice President CCB Malik Azhar Naeem, former vice presidents Raja Irfan Imtiaz, Chaudhry Chengez Khan, Khalid Mehmood Mirza, and other elected members, the earlier increase was rolled back.

Under the revised water tariff, charges for 1-3 marla houses were brought down from Rs450 to Rs300, while 5 marla houses also saw a cut from Rs700 to Rs300.

Similarly, charges for 7 to 10 marla houses dropped from Rs1,000 to Rs450, and for 10 marla houses from Rs1,300 to Rs750. Houses measuring 10 to 15 marla were reduced from Rs1,800 to Rs900, those between 15 and 20 marla from Rs2,500 to Rs1,125, and 20 to 40 marla houses from Rs5,000 to Rs1,500. For houses larger than 40 marla, the monthly charge was cut from Rs6,000 to Rs1,500.

The CCB also reduced commercial conservancy charges. Banks, which were earlier required to pay Rs10,000 per month, will now pay Rs1,500.

Charges for A-class shops were reduced from Rs1,000 to Rs300, B-class shops from Rs800 to Rs200, and other shops from Rs700 to Rs150.

Workshop charges were halved, with rates cut from Rs4,000 to Rs2,000 and from Rs3,000 to Rs1,500. Businesses such as beauty parlours, hotels, barber shops, schools, restaurants and other commercial outlets were also given a relief of 50 to 60 percent.

However, the heavy increase in residential conservancy charges has not been withdrawn.

For instance, charges for 3 marla houses were raised from Rs300 to Rs1,200, for 3-5 marla houses from Rs300 to Rs2,000, and for 10 marla houses from Rs600 to Rs2,600.

Houses larger than 10 marla saw an increase from Rs1,000 to Rs3,600, while even bigger properties faced jumps from Rs1,000 to Rs4,800. In certain cases, charges rose sharply from Rs2,200 to Rs12,000, from Rs2,500 to Rs10,000, and from Rs3,500 to Rs15,000.

Residents have thus been given significant relief in water supply charges, but continue to face steep hikes in residential conservancy tariffs.