August 23, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani 13,1423

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RAWALPINDI, Aug 22: Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) bigwigs have been served show-cause notices on the directives of the provincial minister for works for their alleged laxity and negligence with regard to the city’s water supply system, well- placed sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

The minister, Lt-Gen Tariq (retired), has ordered strict action against Wasa Managing Director Yaseer Gauhar as well as the directors of water supply and project management unit (PMU).

It was the first day in office for the Wasa new chairman, Tehsil Nazim Raja Hamid Nawaz. The authority over Wasa has recently been devolved to the TMA.

Meanwhile, over a hundred persons wearing black bands on their arms barged into the office of WASA managing director and chanted slogans against him and the director of water supply, branding both of them as incompetent and demanding their dismissal.

They were protesting against Wasa’s inability to repair a tubewell and restore water supply to their area. Their sit-in continued for well over an hour.

A few hours later, the supply line from Khanpur Dam, which has a diameter of six feet, burst near the Divisional Public School overhead tank. The pressure of water gushing out of the pipe was so strong that the entire road turned into a pond in a matter of minutes. A taxi standing on the road was almost totally submerged. Water also entered the adjacent shops and houses, damaging the things inside.

It may be recalled that this pipeline was inaugurated quite recently. The inauguration had been delayed because another section of the pipeline ruptured close to the Divisional Public School. The sources in Wasa had revealed that the pipe had burst due to the negligence of PMU staff.

The damaged section of pipeline cannot be replaced locally and the new one would have to be brought from Karachi.

It is also noteworthy that District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiyani arrived at the site of this incident within 30 minutes and pacified the local people. He also made arrangements like closing the road and diverting the traffic with the help of police.

However, nobody from Wasa turned up till three hours after the incident.

The minister for works has sought the report of this incident from TMA within 24 hours, after which serious action may be initiated against the officials concerned.