Basic amenity: WASA told to improve water supply system
LHC asks WASA to submit report about replacing water supply pipelines
LHC asks WASA to submit report about replacing water supply pipelines. PHOTO: FILE.
LAHORE:
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan of Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) to take steps to replace old water supply pipelines and separate them from sewerage pipelines.
The judge remarked that provision of clean water was a basic human right under the Constitution. He said no citizen could be deprived of it. The judge asked the authority to file its report by September 15.
He was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Dr Allah Bakhsh Nadeem, a resident of Lawrence Road.
The petitioner stated that the water being supplied to the area was not adequate. “In the summer season, the water supply remains suspended for weeks,” he said. He said that on January 15, he had filed an application for installation of a new tubewell and setting up of a new water filtration plant in the area with the WASA. “When no action was taken on the application, I filed a petition before the LHC. The court directed the WASA to ensure reliable supply of water to the area within 10 days. Despite the passage of more than two months, the authorities have not followed the court orders. This is tantamount to contempt of court. The court should take action against officials responsible for this lapse,” he said.
Appearing before the court, the WASA managing director stated the size of the water supply pipeline to the Lawrence Road area had been increased from 9 to 12 inches. “We have also set up two tubewells of four cusecs capacity at Patiala Ground and Victoria Park. The problem has been resolved now,” he said.
A legal adviser to the WASA told the court that Nadeem’s house was located on higher ground. “Consequently, the pressure of water reaching Nadeem’s house is low,” he said.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that a water supply tubewell near Masjid Altamash was not working. “The problem faced by residents of the area can be resolved if this tubewell is repaired,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2015.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan of Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) to take steps to replace old water supply pipelines and separate them from sewerage pipelines.
The judge remarked that provision of clean water was a basic human right under the Constitution. He said no citizen could be deprived of it. The judge asked the authority to file its report by September 15.
He was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Dr Allah Bakhsh Nadeem, a resident of Lawrence Road.
The petitioner stated that the water being supplied to the area was not adequate. “In the summer season, the water supply remains suspended for weeks,” he said. He said that on January 15, he had filed an application for installation of a new tubewell and setting up of a new water filtration plant in the area with the WASA. “When no action was taken on the application, I filed a petition before the LHC. The court directed the WASA to ensure reliable supply of water to the area within 10 days. Despite the passage of more than two months, the authorities have not followed the court orders. This is tantamount to contempt of court. The court should take action against officials responsible for this lapse,” he said.
Appearing before the court, the WASA managing director stated the size of the water supply pipeline to the Lawrence Road area had been increased from 9 to 12 inches. “We have also set up two tubewells of four cusecs capacity at Patiala Ground and Victoria Park. The problem has been resolved now,” he said.
A legal adviser to the WASA told the court that Nadeem’s house was located on higher ground. “Consequently, the pressure of water reaching Nadeem’s house is low,” he said.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that a water supply tubewell near Masjid Altamash was not working. “The problem faced by residents of the area can be resolved if this tubewell is repaired,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2015.