RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Friday took suo motu notice over supply of substandard bottled water and issued notices to attorney general for Pakistan and advocate generals of all provinces to submit reports.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said the companies are extracting millions of gallons of water everyday which has damaged aquifer and water table is going down speedily. The court directed the mineral water companies to file statements before the court by today (Saturday), explaining how much water various companies are pumping everyday and what price they are paying for it. The case will be heard in the Lahore Registry.

A report of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) said the poor quality of drinking water has forced a large cross section of citizens to buy bottled water. As a result mushroom growth of bottled water industry in the country has been witnessed during the last few years. However, many mineral water companies have been found selling contaminated water.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice was hearing the suo motu that was taken pertaining to drying out of Katas Raj Temple’s pond, as the cement factories have dug tube wells in that area.

The secretaries of environment and local government informed the bench that the three cement units have made tremendous improvement with regard to pollution, which is being created due to the functioning of the units.

It is also stated that water supply from Kallar Kahar Lake to Katas Raj Temple’s pond has been disconnected. However, the units are still consuming water from bores and the rates in this regard have been fixed and the units have been asked to pay the amount.

The court was informed that survey of cement factories has been conducted. The government of Punjab was directed to submit the list of cement factories.

The court asked the provincial government to fix the water rate for cement factories in accordance with the scarcity and nature of the area. The court said rate should be fixed as per the principle of equity.

Makhdoom Ali Khan, representing cement companies requested that there should be different rates for the commercial and domestic use of bore water. It should be kept in mind that the cement factories also supply water to colonies where the workers of the units are living.

The Punjab Anti-Corruption Agency was directed to hold an inquiry against the former secretary industries who had allowed the cement factories to drill bore for water from the area of Kallar Kahar.