RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has asked the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to refrain from giving approval for commercialisation and construction of new buildings without getting a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

A senior RDA official told Dawn that this step would make it possible for the sanitation agency to manage the provision of water to new consumers, as it would be able to lay new supply lines and develop a consumer database for water supply and sanitation services.

In a letter to RMC, the RDA stated that Wasa was the premier agency responsible for providing water and sanitation facilities to residents in Rawalpindi.

“Water supply and sanitation systems are designed and built [in the city] to cater to demand as per the approved land use plan and population density. However, the conversion of residential properties into commercial units is underway legally/ illegally within the jurisdiction of the RMC, district council, and RDA.”

Agency says commercialisation of residential properties has ‘de-shaped’ original plan for water, sanitation services

This rapid “commercialisation has de-shaped our original plan for the services” since for the past several years, commercialisation took place mainly along the major roads, where high-rise buildings have been constructed, the letter said.

It added that over the recent years, developers have “become very active in the construction of such commercial buildings along Murree Road, 4th Road, 4th B Road, 5th Road, 6th Road, GT Road, Circular Road, Adiala Road, Chirrah Road, etc”.

“This haphazard and unplanned commercialisation along city roads has put considerable stress on existing water supply [system] and sewerage infrastructure and there are an increasing number of complaints about the non-availability of water,” it said, adding that complaints about sewerage blockage were also received on a daily basis from residents of these areas.

Haphazard commercialisation

This is actually the outcome of haphazard commercialisation without informing the Wasa Rawalpindi, it said, proposing that issuance of an NOC from Wasa in this regard would keep the sanitation agency in the loop about new developments.

Water and sanitation are important urban utilities and considerable resources are required to develop, operate, and maintain these systems, it said, adding that these costs are comparably higher in Rawalpindi owing to naturally low groundwater yield and uneven topography.

It stated that NOC issued by concerned building control departments contain “clauses regarding water supply and sewer connections, but another factor is added when no planning can be carried out without data regarding commercialisation”.

Since the inception of Wasa in 1998, approvals are not being sought from the agency, undermining its ability to chalk out plans for the system. Resultantly, there is an increased gap between the existing infrastructure and actual demand, it added.

The letter requested that approval of commercialisation of buildings may not be approved without seeking NOC from Wasa. Meanwhile, the approval already accorded by the department without NOC from Wasa may be intimated to this office for remedial actions.

When contacted, RMC Chief Officer Amjad Hussain said that the RMC had no objections to this and it would make NOC from Wasa mandatory for the new building plans. He, however, agreed that this practice could delay the approval of building plans. The RMC wanted to simplify the new building plan approval and land conservation procedure in the municipal limits so the people would get their building plan approved without any hurdles.

On the other hand, the RDA officials said due to the NOC requirement, the income of Wasa would enhance. They added that the practice would result in the provision of potable water according to consumer data.

FIRs against illegal connections

Wasa said it would register cases against individuals after the agency caught more than 1500 illegal connections during an ongoing survey. An emergency meeting of the Wasa Revenue Directorate was held with Wasa Managing Director Mohammad Tanveer in the chair.

Mohammad Tanveer said that cases against illegal connections would be registered. FIRs will be registered against defaulters while heavy fines will be imposed on consumers who waste water, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2023