The KWSB's policy, procedure and system of tax-collection and water-supply for citizens residing in flat complexes are defective and not based on justice. It requires a thorough revision with all the realistic amendments, keeping in view the protection of the rights of the law-abiding citizens.
Regular tax-payers, residing in Rufi Lake Drive Complex of 760 flats, after being a victim of water-disconnection for two weeks during November-December-2004, want the KWSB to answer the following questions through the same column, that why do we pay tax, when the KWSB despite the payment:
(a). Does not allow the daily supply of water to tax-payers.
(b). Supplies insufficient water on alternate days of the week, even at times with no-supply at all on alternate days. Is the KWSB prohibiting the use of water on alternate days by the tax-payers?
(c). At times disconnecting the water-supply to tax-payers for weeks despite the payment of tax.
(d). Does not provide proper sewerage services in the main-lines connecting the flat complexes.
(e). Never delivers tax bills to consumers at apartments, even once a year, causing the loss of bills and late payments by the consumers.
(f). Uses regular tax-payers, under duress of water-disconnection, for tax-recoveries from defaulters which is in addition to their own payment, thus shifting their own duty on to the public.
(g). Because of their own failure to recover taxes from defaulters they blindly withhold the water-supply to an entire complex of many flats without discrimination of tax-payers and tax-evaders.
(h). On the complaints against the short-supply and the non-supply of water to regular tax-payers, instead of resolving the genuine problems, they exhibit their own in-house problems, duty and culture job of "total-demand, total-payment and total default" and are not concerned with the tax-payers.
(i). Is it the responsibility or duty of any "regular tax-payer", after paying his own tax, to also clear the default-arrears of others, prior to getting water from the KWSB?
(j). Is it the legal duty of any "welfare association of flats complex" to deliver the KWSB's tax-bills to consumers, realise payment and resolve recoveries on behalf of KWSB?
(k). Why does the KWSB, neither takecare of consumer services nor of tax-recoveries?
It must be clearly understood by the KWSB that all the "welfare associations" render honorary services for the welfare of the residents living in the respective flat complexes and not for the welfare or tax-recoveries of the KWSB which in fact, is their job that they are paid for.
All utility companies like Sui Gas Co, PTCL and the KESC, except the KWSB, have installed meters in their respective supply to the consumers in flat complexes, and issue individual bills against meter-readings for the actual supply and themselves take appropriate action against the concerned defaulters without implicating the paid-consumers or welfare associations.
The KWSB is deliberately avoiding the installation of water-meters in the main-lines of water to complexes for those consumers residing in flats. They charge tax from law-abiders while providing them lesser water at times even with no-supply, which is unjustified.
The above mentioned high-handedness of the KWSB is causing inconvenience to the regular tax-payers, poor services and their own failure in tax recoveries from defaulters can be redressed by enacting a law and a revision of the injudicious policies and faulty-system of the KWSB by taking the following measures:
(i) Immediate installation of water-meters in all the main lines connecting apartment complexes so that they measure the actual water-supply.
(ii) The daily supply of water should be provided instead of on alternate days of the week at a minimum of 200 gallons per flat, per day, to fulfil the minimum daily water needs of the consumers.
(iii) No disconnection and the regular supply of water to regular tax-payers.
(iv) Proper regular maintenance of sewerage services.
(v) Delivery of tax bills under the acknowledgement of each flat by the KWSB's own staff.
(vi) Recoveries against the concerned tax-defaulter by the KWSB itself without inconveniencing the tax payers and without shifting the KWSB's own duty on any welfare association or the public.
(vii) Periodic camping of KWSB's officers/staff in apartment complexes to facilitate the consumers and to accelerate the campaign of tax collection.