KARACHI, Nov 1: The Rangers have revoked their earlier decision of adjusting tanker filling charges. The decision has been taken to prevent the tanker mafia from increasing rates of water tankers who were taking undue advantage of adjustment of filling charges.
Taking a prompt action against the owners of tankers who had increased the rates of tankers following some adjustments made by the rangers in the filling charges, an official of the Rangers said on Tuesday that keeping in view the difficulties of the consumers, the Rangers have restored the old filling charges so that commercial tankers could be made available at old rates.
A press release issued by the Rangers said that though the Rangers while making adjustment of filling charges for commercial and residential had reduced the filling charges for commercial tankers from Rs 73 to Rs 65 per 1000 gallons and increased the filling charges for residential commercial tankers from Rs 50 to 65 per 1000 gallons, some of the tanker owners had increased their rates by Rs 50 for 1000 gallons.
The Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), in order to redress the problems of consumers and to prevent the tanker owners from overcharging, have reverted back to the old rates of filling charges.
The Rangers spokesman has also warned all the tanker owners to provide commercial water tankers to consumers on old rates and desist from overcharging, or else action would be taken against them.
He has also requested the consumers to lodge their complaints about overcharging at 9231224.
SHORTAGE: Various parts of the city have been experiencing acute water shortage for the last couple of days owing to tempering of valves and faulty water distribution system.
The hard-hit localities include almost all cooperative housing societies, such as Bahadur Yar Jung Society, Karachi Administration Society, parts of Bangalore Town, Al-Hamra Sociaty, Jinnah Society, Clifton’s blocks 2, 5 and 6, Bath Island, Akhtar Colony and several blocks of North Karachi and Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
Accusing the KWSB staff of creating an artificial water shortage in their locality on the eve of Eidul Fitr, residents of the affected localities alleged that the lower staff are hands in glove with the tanker mafia and they create water shortage on such occasions merely to give a boost to the sale by private tankers.
They also complained that since their requests for provision of water through general public tanker service (GPTS) usually remain unheeded for days together, they have no choice but to purchase water at exorbitant rates.
Meanwhile, residents of Clifton’s Block-2 area have expressed concern over acute shortage of water in their area and warned that would stop paying taxes if their problem was not solved.
They said that they would block the Kharkar Chowrangi to make traffic-jam till their genuine demands were not met.
