ISLAMABAD: Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has decided to disconnect and remove illegal water-boring pumps and connections installed at residential and commercial units in different areas of the federal capital.
It was decided to control unchecked and continued suction of groundwater which was leading to its severe depletion in the city.
Chairing a meeting, Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz directed the concerned formations to issue a notice to owners of all such premises where underground water was being illegally drawn through water bores or other means. He also ordered to regularise these connections and water bores from the water supply wing or from their respective union council.
If approval from the competent forum is not obtained, the mayor said, seven more days will be given to removing water-bores voluntarily. However, after the expiry of the final notice, a comprehensive campaign would be launched to take action against illegal water-bores across the city, he added.
He further directed to publish a public notice to warn the residents of the federal capital to remove illegal water bores voluntarily, otherwise, strict action would be taken against the violators and fine amounting to Rs5,000 will be imposed. He further directed to publish names of the people involved in the illegal drawing of underground water in the press as well.
The mayor said that water is essential to people and the largest available source of fresh water lies underground. Due to fewer rains in winter this year, the water level in different reservoirs including groundwater had decreased significantly.
The mayor was briefed that in order to utilise available water effectively, MCI had devised a plan under which the teams of water supply wing will carry out a complete survey of housing units of the capital to check illegal water connections and water boring pumps.
He was informed that due to fewer rain spells, Simly Dam and Khanpur Dam could not be filled completely while underground water level had also decreased due to which water from tube-wells could not be supplied properly. He was informed that supply of water had been reduced by 50 per cent so that existing resources could be utilised up till the monsoon season.
