October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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FAISALABAD, Oct 17: Residents of Saifabad No 2 staged a sit-in in front of the offices of the district Nazim here on Wednesday in protest against the indifferent attitude of Wasa functionaries.

Hundreds of residents of the privately-developed residential locality staged a rally against Wasa for demanding Rs3.4 million from the dwellers as development charges. The rally was led by the Nazim of union council No 181.

Participants in the rally chanted slogans against the Wasa management by beating their chests. The protesters reached the district council secretariat and staged a sit-in in front of the offices of Nazim Zahid Nazir.

Some representatives of the protesters called on the Nazim in the presence of some Wasa highups and presented their demands.

Talking to this correspondent, the area Nazim said residents of Saifabad No 2 got laid a sewer by spending over Rs2 million on self-help basis. The scheme was inaugurated by the Wasa managing director a couple of months ago.

He claimed the Wasa authorities concerned issued a notice to the poor residents of the locality to pay Rs3.4 million as development charges within 15 days otherwise they would have to face legal action.

He said there was no justification in demanding such charges from the dwellers who had laid down the pipeline at their own.

The Nazim said the Wasa personnel disconnected their sewer connections despite the fact that they were not defaulter. He said a local court had issued a stay order, and directed Wasa highups not to disconnect connections, but court orders were violated deliberately.

When contacted, a Wasa spokesman claimed that the locality was developed without any approval. He said the residents were warned by Wasa not to purchase plots, but they did not pay any heed to the warning.