Potable water for Nazim’s farmland

Published December 8, 2001

KASUR, Dec 7: The Nazim of a local union council No 27 (Ibrahimabad) has been found watering his and his relatives’ fields from a newly-built water supply scheme which is yet be commissioned.

The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has completed the scheme at a cost of Rs2.9 million at Green Kot village.

A few days ago, Nazim Arshad Khan allegedly snatched from the watchman keys of the room where the water pump had been sunk and switched it on. He not only watered his farmland but also extended his ‘generosity’ to his relatives.

The turbine was used for 16 to 20 hours daily. Its extensive use caused cracks in the underground pipes. According to PHED engineers, the turbine should not be run for more than eight hours daily.

The Nazim and his relatives are also misusing the department’s dewatering set with impunity.

When contacted, Kasur DCO Babar Yaqoob confirmed the report and said action against the accused had been recommended.

Nazim Arshad Khan, however, termed the charges against him baseless, saying ‘he was only testing the water supply scheme’.

A PHED official said the department had handed over the water supply scheme to the Users Committee on Nov 1, 2001, and it was up to this committee to decide about the scheme.