Wasa fails to resume water supply to Adiala Road even in Ramazan

Rawalpindi:The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has failed to resume water supply at Adiala Road even during the holy month of Ramazan. The matter was in the hands of the Deputy Commissioner Officer, but even the higher-ups failed to rectify the situation thanks to the concocted statements given by Wasa officials that the affected locality was getting water supply.

The locals of Saleha Street, Defense Road, Ali Town, Hill View Lane, Munawar Colony, Kalyal, Dama Syedan, Jarahi, Mubarak Lane, and several other areas were running from pillar to post for drinking water in the holy month of Ramazan but in vain.

Managing Director (Additional Charge) Saleem Ashraf in his statement at the Deputy Commissioner Office claimed that residents of Adiala Road were getting supply water, whereas the situation was the opposite and it seems that the Wasa official was trying to hide his poor performance and irresponsible behaviour. So far no action has been taken on the part of the Deputy Commissioner nor has the Commissioner taken any kind of action against the Wasa department in this regard. All water-sucking electric motors were out of order for over two months but Wasa was dealing with this issue lightly. The Accounts Department of Wasa told ‘The News’ that they had released funds to repair or purchase new electric motors to start supply water here at Adiala Road.

It seems that the Punjab government has left the public of Rawalpindi in the lurch on the sweet will of corrupt officers. The Punjab government has given all responsibilities to Maryam Aurangzeb to look after the problems of Rawalpindi but unfortunately, Maryam Aurangzeb was not found in Rawalpindi after the elections. Again and again ‘The News’ tried to contact Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb for resolution of this issue but she did not pick up the call.

Over a week back, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rawalpindi Official Spokesman Shahid Shah informed ‘The News’ that Managing Director (Wasa) assured to resolve this issue in a couple of days. The official spokesman again and again asked the managing director to resolve this issue but in vain. Finally, DC spokesman Shahid Shah put his hands up and informed ‘The News’ that Wasa MD was not serious about resolving this issue and ‘The News’ should approach some other senior high-ups.

‘The News’ again and again contacted Managing Director (WASA) Saleem Ashraf for a statement but he did not pick telephone. He was reluctant to talk with ‘The News’ in this situation.

‘The News’ contacted Sub-Engineer Water Supply In-Charge at Adiala Road, Rawalpindi Muhammad Nashad he said that electric motors were out of order therefore residents were not getting supply water. Electric motors will be repaired soon to re-start supply, he assured.

The locals Muhammad Farid, Rizwan Chatta, Zahoor, Khawaja Basharat, Malik Adalat, Rab Nawaz, Ghulam Abbas, Riaz, Fayyaz, Said Rasool, Ali Nawaz, Shakeel Ahmed, Sheikh Tasleem, Muhammad Javed, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Akram, Wasiq Razzak, Sajjad Sadiq showed their grievances and asked the quarters concerned to meet their demand of water supply on priority. They said that they were protesting against the absence of drinking water here at Adiala Road for over two months but nobody took any kind of action against it. It seems that all Wasa officers were dealing with this issue in a lighter mood or a ‘friendly’ manner, people bemoaned.

Wasa Junior Sub-Engineer who is the In-Charge of overall Adiala Road Ahmed Hasan said that they were trying to rectify the fault. People will be supplied water soon, he assured. A complainant said, "We have to fetch water from far-flung areas to meet the daily needs. We can't afford a water tanker that is costly and unaffordable and we have to pay Rs3000 to buy water from private water tankers," he added. The residents of Adiala Road appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to resolve this issue on a priority basis because the corrupt mafia not only destroyed Wasa but also looted consumers with both hands.