LAHORE: Residents of Mori Gate – one of the localities included in the National Assembly constituency of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif –protested against unavailability of uninterrupted water supply for the last 10 years and demanded of the chief minister and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) managing director to take notice of the situation.

“This is a very old case — almost 10 years. And we have been trying our best to get this issue resolved. On the other hand, we are regularly paying water bills too,” Pervaiz, a resident of Maidan Bhayon Wala in the Mori Gate area, says while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

“We contacted our area SDO (sub-divisional officer), executive engineer and director several times regarding the issue. But they all failed to resolve our issue despite having resources,” he continues while lashing out at the respective Wasa officers.

Usman, another resident, says whenever they visited the area office of Wasa the officials asked them to contact Hamza Shahbaz. He says sometimes ago, a similar issue was also reported from a nearby locality but its residents got the issue resolved by pushing Wasa to install a pressure pump meant for increasing water supply pressure, enabling Wasa to ensure supply to the whole locality, including its tail-end areas.

“If a similar pressure pump is installed, this issue can be resolved within an hour. But no one is paying heed towards our issue,” Usman laments, adding that none of the officers has even bothered to visit the locality and check the issue personally.

Khurram, another consumer, says the people are in great trouble due to non-availability of water in harsh weather conditions.

“How to take bath or wash clothes since there is no water. Due to this, we are forced to bring water in cans from a nearby locality,” he adds, demanding the CM to intervene and direct Wasa to help residents.

Wasa MD Ghufran Ahmad says he would immediately get this issue resolved by issuing orders to the respective director (operations).

“If a booster pump is needed there, we will have to isolate the respective supply lines. Hope, we will get this issue resolved soon,” he claims.

GAS PILFERAGE: The SNGPL teams on Saturday severed another 36 gas connections and imposed Rs1.4m fine on account of gas pilferage and other illegalities committed by the consumers.

In Lahore, according to a spokesman, the team disconnected 10 meters for illegal use of gas while one for the use of compressor. The team lodged an FIR against a gas pilferer.

In Multan, the team severed eight connections for illegal use of gas while another two for using a compressor.

The regional team of Faisalabad disconnected two connections for illegal use of gas. In Sahiwal, the team disconnected one connection on the same charge. The regional team of Gujranwala disconnected two connections for illegal use of gas and another for the use of compressor.

The regional team of Bahawalpur disconnected four connections for illegal use of gas and another two on the use of the compressor.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024