Islamabad-The Islamabad High Court yesterday expressed annoyance over the officials of the Capital Development Authority for not submitting the reply in a petition against water shortage in the federal capital.
A single bench of Islamabad High Court comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducted hearing of the petition and directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials including Director Water Management and a representative of the Islamabad’s Mayor to appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing.
The bench of Islamabad High Court further directed that the said officials would not only submit reply but also explain the steps they have taken so far to address the issue and said that it is the last chance for submission of their reply.
Justice Kayani remarked that the Capital Development Authority higher officials could only feel the gravity of the situation when their water supply connections were either disconnected or they were made to get water from tube wells or tankers.
Earlier, the same court had issued notices to the Mayor of Islamabad and Capital Development Authority officials in this petition on April 27.
Petitioner Raja Tanvir a resident of I-10 moved this petition through his counsel Yasir Mahmood Chaudhary and nominated Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) through its Mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) as respondents.
He stated in the petition that the fundamental right of the general public is being violated due to water shortage and is connecting water supply in the various sectors of Islamabad particularly in sector I-10.
The petitioner said that he filed various applications to the concerned authorities but they remained unmoved and did not fulfil their constitutional obligations.
He added that supply of water is quite inadequate considering growing population of the federal capital.
Respondent authorities have shifted their responsibility and awarded the contract of tube wells to private contractors who failed to overcome the shortage.
He continued that water is the basic need and fundamental human right. Due to the shortage of water, petitioner is compelled to spend money for getting water through private tankers which charge 1500 to 2000 rupees per tanker.
The petitioner informed the Islamabad High Court that 60 out of 150 tube wells in Islamabad were non-functional while civic authorities in view of growing water needs did not install new tube wells.
Therefore, he prayed to the Islamabad High Court to direct the Capital Development Authority to resolve water crisis and restore water supply generally to the Islamabad residents and particularly to the residents of I-10 Sector.