Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Monday said he would request Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk to personally monitor water shortage issue in the federal capital. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by the Chief Justice heard a suo motu case on water shortage in the capital. The top judge, who has worked under the caretaker prime minister when he was Chief Justice of Pakistan, said he would request the interim Prime Minister to personally look into water crisis in capital.
"I'd request the [caretaker] Prime Minister to personally monitor the issues of water and power and summon a cabinet meeting on war-footing basis in this regard," he remarked.
During the proceedings, he observed that the reports are presented but there is no progress in the case, which shows the authorities are not taking the issues seriously. Criticizing the caretaker government, Chief Justice Nisar said that the federal government has failed to appoint members of the federal cabinet, pointing out that the existing five-member cabinet cannot effectively run the country. He regretted how expectations can be attached with the caretaker government, which has been failed to complete even its cabinet.
He said that half of the population of the federal capital is facing acute water shortage. He feared if monsoon rains do not occur then how people will get water as the water level in Khanpur, Rawal and Simli dams is almost touching the dead level.
He pointed out that there is concrete everywhere in Islamabad due to which rainwater is not recharging the underground water.
The court was apprised by the chairman of UC-12 that that Bahria Town's Malik Riaz had installed many illegal tube-wells in the area, which had decreased the level of underground water.
A PPP leader and former MD Pakistan Baitul Mal, Zamurd Khan told the court that water tanker is being sold at Rs 8,000 in Rawalpindi city. He said it should not be sold out more than Rs 1,300. He requested the court to direct the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board to fix the price of the water tanker.
The CEO of the Cantonment Board stated that 60 hydrants that were operating in the past have been shut down on the orders of the government.
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, appearing as amicus curiae, stated that the apex court has declared water as mineral in its decision, whereas the underground water remains in running, thus it cannot be declared as mineral.
The Chief Justice remarked that resolving the issue of water is the responsibility of the federal government. He further said that he always tries not to interfere in the domain of the executive. He said that the attorney general should hold an emergent meeting over the water issue in his office.
The additional attorney general apprised the court that a summary regarding funds for water projects in the federal capital will be approved during the coming week. He said that funds will also be released next week. The Chief Justice noted that plastic bags and plastic bottles are also polluting water.
The additional attorney general also submitted a report on water in the court, stating that 120 million gallons of water per day is required for Islamabad. He said currently only 58.71 million gallons of water per day is being supplied to Islamabad.
A representative of Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) told the court that the WASA Rawalpindi and Cantonment Board Rawalpindi had to pay one billion rupees to them. He said IESCO had to pay them Rs 2.4 billion. He said if these amounts are recovered, works on short and long term water projects can be started.
He said that during the last two-and-a-half-year, the previous government did not pay even a little amount to the IMC. He said that the IMC is paying salaries to its staff by borrowing from the CDA.
The court was also apprised that there is also an issue of 40 percent of water leakage. During the proceedings, the Chief Justice expressed dismay over the newly appointed attorney general for not attending the court despite it was his first day. The court regretted that advocate general was also absent during the hearing of such an important case.
The director general environment stated that bacteria are growing in the polluted water and are entering our bodies after drinking polluted water. He said that there are no arrangements for sanitation of water nullahs. He said that Rawal Dam is full of garbage.
The Chief Justice then noted that the apex court is left with no option but to intervene when it notices inaction on part of the government departments to check violations of the law. The court adjourned the hearing till Wednesday (tomorrow).
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