KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has taken a decisive step by summoning the CEO of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) to present a comprehensive report on the water supply and demand situation for the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton.
The development unfolded at the Sindh High Court (SHC) as a two-member bench, led by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard a pertinent petition.
The petitioner’s legal representative, Khawaja Shamsul Salam, put forth allegations of improper escalation of property and conservancy taxes by DHA and Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC).
”]In a pointed response, the court expressed its displeasure with the actions of CBC and questioned the rationale behind charging citizens for water services that were not being adequately provided.
Justice Abbasi stressed that a court directive had established that individuals paying for water services should not be burdened with additional expenses for water tankers.
The court also expressed dissatisfaction with the representation provided by the counsel of CBC, emphasizing the fundamental importance of water as a basic necessity for the people.
Besides, the counsel for the Clifton Cantonment Board informed the court that the water board was not adhering to the agreed-upon water supply terms outlined in the contract.
The contracted amount stipulated was 9 million gallons per day (mgd), while the actual demand stood at 20 mgd.
Justice Abbasi reiterated that ensuring access to water for every household fell under the purview of the water board’s responsibilities.
The board’s counsel cited water shortages as a primary reason for the supply discrepancies and noted that addressing this scarcity might only be feasible upon the completion of the K-IV project.
Justice Abbasi further highlighted the situation of overflowing dams, indicating that water availability should not be compromised given the current circumstances.
The petitioner’s lawyer brought to the court’s attention that the cantonment had been supplying water via hydrants, leading to the question of why direct line access was not utilized.
As this legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how the KW&SB CEO’s report and subsequent actions will address the challenges surrounding the water supply.
Source: Tribune
