SHC orders constitution of high-level board to ensure amenities in Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the federal and Sindh governments to submit a proposal with regard to the formation of a higher board comprising all entities related to approval of schemes in public and private sector as well as basic amenities schemes and their responsibilities to lessen the miseries of common citizen.

The direction came on petitions filed by residents for an improved water supply through pipelines in their area and against the imposition of additional charges for the water supply through tankers.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar observed that the petitions pertained to supply of water in DHA as there was shortage of water in the locality. The high court observed that it had been noted that one reason for the persistence of problems relating to basic amenities in Karachi was that utility service providers and other departments were governed by the federal and provincial governments and they were not working under one umbrella as a result of which there was the issue of overlapping and conflicting policies.

The SHC observed that some departments had their own bylaws while the other departments had own rules. The bench directed the federal and Sindh governments to submit a proposal with regard to formation of a higher board comprising all relevant entities relating to approval of schemes in public and private sectors as well as basic amenities schemes with the responsibility of lessening the miseries of the citizens.

A counsel for the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) sought time to file a compliance report in respect of previous court orders.

The high court had earlier observed that the civic agencies were under the legal obligation to provide all civic amenities to the consumers, subject to the payment of charges, and the respondents were required to take necessary steps to ensure a continued and uninterrupted water supply of water to the residents of DHA through normal water connections.

It had further observed that it was expected that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, Defence Housing Authority and CBC would arrange a joint meeting to find a solution and improve water supply to the residents through normal pipelines.

The high court also said that the authorities shall make all possible efforts to continue supplying water to the petitioners as per the undertaking and court orders.

The petitioners had submitted that the cantonment board was charging Rs2,886 to Rs108,219 for residential houses and Rs4,040 to Rs61,612 for commercial units under the annual water tax. They submitted that the high court had already adjudicated the issue with regard to the supply of water and the cantonment board’s responsibility, and observed that in case of failure to supply water, the CBC had disentitled itself from charging or claiming the water tax.

The petitioners submitted that no water meters had been installed by the respondents and the water tax was being charged as per the size of the property, not as per the quantity of water being consumed. They said the CBC was providing roughly 30 per cent water of the total need of its residents.