Provinces asked to appoint focal persons within two days.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court on Thursday said it did not want to see people losing jobs merely because of water conservation.

'We do not want to see unemployment because of water conservation but awareness to save precious water should be instilled into people,' observed Justice Umar Ata Bandial heading a three-judge bench.

The bench had taken up a case on a suo motu regarding selling of bottled water extracted from underground sources without any charge as well as the quality and fitness for human consumption.

The observation came when during the hearing a representative of the Metropolitan Corporation, IslamAabad, highlighted certain reservations and concern on the part of the industry about the decision of levying a cess of Re1 for every litre of water extracted from the underground sources.

SC wants recovery of charges from industries consuming surface or ground water

Justice Bandial highlighted the need of installing water treatment plants in the industry to save water from wastage.

Prof Dr Mohammad Ahsan Siddiqui, an environmental scientist who was appointed head of a special committee on water, told the court that the body had written letters to different provincial governments, informing them about the Jan 11 apex court order of imposing Re1 per litre for extracted surface water by mineral water and beverage companies.

Other members of the special committee include representatives of the chief secretaries of the provinces, directors general of the federal and provincial environmental protection agencies, among others. It was tasked with devising a mechanism for the calculation, collection and monitoring of the recovery of the water charges of ground and surface water for all major industries consuming surface or ground water. But only the chief secretary of Punjab had responded to the letter, Dr Siddiqui regretted.

At this, the court observed that the three provincial governments should appoint some focal persons...