Water scarcity: CJP seeks details of tube wells installed in twin cities

The apex court on Friday sought details of tube-wells installed in twin-cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from chairmen Capital Development Authority and Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi in 10 days. The executive officer Cantonment Board Rawalpindi and managing director Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) were also directed to furnish the detail of tube-wells in their areas.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heading a three-judge bench, inquired whether all the persons who have tube-wells are present in the court. Malik Abrar told the bench that he was former MNA of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and he doesn't have any tube-well. The Chief Justice said, "We will record your statement." The Chief Justice warned, "If later on it is proved false then we will proceed against you."
The Chief Justice said 'all those who say they don't have tube-wells have to submit the affidavits.'Pakistan Peoples Party leader Zamurd Khan told the court that it was totally wrong that he bored tube-well at his residence. He said he being a social worker would like to inform the court that there was acute water shortage in the cantonment area.
The administration of the Cantonment Board is not providing water to people living in that area. The Chief Justice inquired from him whether the people of cantonment areas were using water-tankers. Zamurd replied in affirmative.
Zamurd informed that there were many tube-wells in the cantonment areas, adding before ordering to close them the authorities should provide the alternative to it.
The Chief Justice rejecting his proposal and snubbing him said that as he was running children school therefore he should limit himself to that job only and he needed not interfere in the affairs of the public administration. The Chief Justice remarked why the people at the helm of affairs could not make any policy for supplying water to the people. The Chief Justice said when the court took notice then the authorities came in action.
The Chief Justice said they were thinking to tax tube-well water, and remarked how people were using hundreds of gallons of tube-well water free of cost. He said they would give 15 days to the Municipal Corporation to levy the tax on tube-well water.
He said the CDA and Municipal Corporation should prepare a joint policy. The chairman CDA is summoned on the next date of hearing. The court also directed chairman Municipal Corporation to be present on the next hearing.