Crackdown on illegal hydrants launched

Rawalpindi: Acting on the directives of the Rawalpindi Commissioner, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) launched a massive crackdown on the illegal and polluted water suppliers and sealed six hydrants.

The action is headed by Senior Special Magistrate Aamir Ashfaq Qureshi while other members include Deputy Director, Revenue, Rana Shams ur Rehman. ‘The News’ was informed that while initiating crackdown, the team first launched drive at Dhoke Nawaz, Morgah. While sealing the hydrants and water filling stations which were functioning illegally and had been supplying polluted water on private basis, the Wasa team also took sample of water and sent it to the laboratory for test.

Action was taken against ‘Fatqar Water Filling Station’, Chaudhry Salam, Fateh Ali, Mohd Yasin, Chaudhry Wajid and Chaudhry Aurangzeb Water Filling Stations based at Dhok Nawaz, Morgah.

The notice of supplying contaminated and polluted water by illegal water filling stations was brought into the notice of the residents of Morgah. On the complaints, the Rawalpindi Commissioner directed Wasa to take immediate action against the illegal hydrants, who were also supply polluted water to the residents through private tankers and charging heavy fees from them up to Rs1,400 per water bowser.

Deputy Director, Wasa, Umar Farooq told that before starting crackdown, the agency had issued notices to the hydrants for closing their business being done on illegal basis and on the charge of supplying contaminated and polluted water to the people besides charging heavy fees .

Umar Farooq told that the cases of the six illegal hydrants had been forwarded to the special magistrate court for further action against them. Through notices, Wasa had advised the illegal hydrants to approach the agency concerned authorities for getting their filling stations registered. On not complying the orders, Wasa decided to launch crackdown on them which has been initiated.

Similarly, senior special magistrate, Wasa, Aamir Ashfaq Qureshi told that the hydrants owners would be punished in accordance with the law as there is no concession for supplying polluted water to the residents. It is a big crime which would be dealt with severity.

Moreover, the crackdown would continue till abolishing all all illegal water supply agencies running their business privately. The magistrate has asked the people of their respective wards to inform him if there exist any illegal hydrant in their respective areas so that action could be taken against them.