Daily Times

LAHORE: Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) officials have taken action against alleged contractor and laboureres in the case involving the demolition of WASA’s Overhead Reservoir in Ravi Block Park, Allama Iqbal Town. However, WASA has logged a First Information Report (FIR) against them for covering up the official’s negligence, Daily Times has learnt.

Sub Engineer Iqbal Town Division WASA Wahaj Khan Niazi has moved an application to register a case in the Iqbal Town Police Station last week on which he claimed that Water Tank (Overhead Reservoir) was an ownership of WASA and its tank’s roof was completely demolished without getting permission from WASA Authority. He also demanded compensation from accused (sub-contractor) in his first application.

Wahaj moved a new application against the same accused after taking final decision from WASA’s high authority and claimed that accused harmed public property and also stole the 2.5 mounds steel iron (Sariya) from there.

Alleged accused talking with Daily Times said that he did not harm public property and stole any things. He said that the applicant did not mention concerns in the first application which he submitted. He also informed that Wahaj along with their staff was reached at the park on the call of locals for blocking off the leakage of water that was filling inside the park. He said that WASA was still unaware from this all scenario before calling. The accused denied all charges.

He further said that PHA Director Horticulture Z-1 Muhammad Nawaz Ramay in his remarks on the application said “Please renovate the Ravi Block Park and demolish unnecessary buildings etc & old water tank which is very dangerous for children as well as women”. But main contractor was an illiterate person who cannot read English language and Baba Ibrahim along with partners started demolishing work.

Documents available with Daily Times including FIR copy, first application copy of WASA that submitted in police station, application copy of residents along with their signatures and remarks of PHA Director Horticulture Z-1 Muhammad Nawaz Ramay.

People said the water tank was not in functional position for last several years and did not supplying water to local residential homes. Many times, they had informed PHA and WASA officials about their concerns from and even moved several applications but did not received positive answer from concerned officials. The Top roof of tank was ued for illegal activities.

Iqbal Town Division WASA Director Aslam Khan Niazi talking with Daily Times said that they were probing to this matter and would not spare to any person who would be involved in this case. He said “Overhead Reservoir was abandoned for last 7-8 years and their worker not paid visit on daily basis. In a query, he further said that PHA did not give permission for demolishing the water tank.