Water Commission bars DHA from new constructions

KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated water commission, on Monday, forbade Defense Housing Authority (DHA) from further constructions in the area unless it provides due water facilities to the residents.

During case hearing of water supply and drainage in Sindh, the water commission, headed by Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, asked DHA to first cater water needs of the populace before planning further construction in the area.

While mentioning the long-pending K-IV water project, the commission head said that even the completion of K-IV project will not solve your (DHA) water supplying issues.

“After spending 80 million rupees, a person purchases a single plot in DHA, yet he has to pay separately for water. Isn’t it unfair with the people living in DHA?” the commission chief remarked.

The water commission ordered DHA and Cantonment officials to submit an affidavit by May 28 that all sewerage pipelines will be removed from the sea by December 2018. Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, who heads the Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation, expressed displeasure over the matter and urged to fix the pollution issue of the sea.

For the removal of sewerage pipeline behind Creek Vista, the commission has set the deadline of four months, whereas, on the request of Attorney General, the duration of removing rest of the sewerage pipelines, from the sea, was extended till December 2018.

Clifton Cantonment Chief Executive Officer tried to justify himself before the commission with saying that they do not sell water instead, they charge for it. “I have got receipts and I myself bought two tankers of water for thousand rupees”, Advocate Anwar Mansoor snapped CEO Cantonment.

The Supreme Court constituted a Water Commission in order to address the water crisis in Sindh pertaining to the access of clean drinking water and drainage issues.