ISLAMABAD: Residents have strongly opposed the Cantonment Board’s decision to impose a Rs7,000 NOC fee and monthly billing charges on privately installed water borewells, terming the move unfair and an unnecessary financial burden on the local community.
They said the water bores had been installed by residents at their own expense to meet their basic water requirements. They maintained that the Cantonment Board had not contributed to the installation, construction, maintenance or operation of these private water sources and, therefore, should withdraw the charges.
A large number of residents attended a consultative meeting convened to discuss the matter and expressed serious concern over the decision. The participants unanimously demanded that the Cantonment Board reconsider the policy and immediately withdraw both the Rs7,000 NOC fee and the monthly charges imposed on privately installed water bores.
The residents said the borewells had been developed entirely through their own financial resources and that additional charges would increase the financial pressure on households already bearing the cost of installation and maintenance of their private water sources.
They said residents should not be required to pay new charges for facilities installed and maintained by them without any financial assistance from the Cantonment Board. They described the NOC fee and monthly billing as unjustified and unacceptable.
The meeting also expressed concern over the absence of elected public representatives. The residents said no councillor, MNA or MPA attended the consultative meeting to listen to their concerns or support them on the issue.
The absence of elected representatives caused disappointment and frustration among the participants, who said public representatives should remain accessible to the people and attend meetings on matters that directly affect the daily lives and expenses of the local community.
The residents called upon the Cantonment Board and other concerned authorities to take immediate notice of their complaints and engage directly with the affected community to find a solution.
They also urged their elected representatives to intervene and play their role in resolving the dispute instead of remaining absent while residents face the financial impact of the decision.
The residents demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Rs7,000 NOC fee and all monthly charges on privately installed water bores. They said the matter directly concerned access to a basic need and should be addressed without delay.
They further stated that they would continue raising their voice through peaceful and lawful means until their demands were met and the charges withdrawn.
