RAWALPINDI, July 28: Wasa officials have been trying to abort the agency’s merger with Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), well-placed sources told Dawn.

According to the local government (LG) ordinance, the authority over Wasa was to be devolved to the TMA. However, Wasa’s bureaucracy has been manoeuvring to abort the plan in order to hold on to the powers it has traditionally enjoyed.

The sources further said that Wasa officials not only feared they might be stripped of the power and influence they wielded, but also that they might have their shortcomings exposed if the agency was put under the TMA control.

Wasa faces wide criticism of the public and the elected LG members of the district and Tehsil. After its devolution, the elected representatives would be able to keep a closer watch on the performance of Wasa officials.

Another aspect of this issue is that a plethora of directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and other staff in Grade 16 and above were hired on contract when Wasa was separated from the now defunct Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation. Most of these appointments were made on the basis of favouritism without following proper rules and regulations and the criteria of merit, sources said and added, the newly appointed officials also included retired army personnel.

Most of these employees are surplus and set to be shown the way out if Wasa is devolved. Only the regular staff will be retained. TMA authorities have also demanded the list of regular employees from Wasa, TMA sources told this reporter.

Because of these reasons, the Wasa-TMA merger has not materialised despite the passage of almost an year since the introduction of the local government system.