Soan Garden residents alarmed as 11 tube wells draw water from small H Block stretch
Court Order Against New Tube Well Drilling Followed by Contempt Petition in Soan Garden
By Nadeem Tanoli
ISLAMABAD: Residents of Soan Garden’s H Block have voiced serious concern over the presence of 11 tube wells within a 1,320-foot stretch, warning that continuous extraction of underground water could deepen the area’s water crisis and affect future generations.
The residents have accused the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak EPA) of failing to take effective action despite repeated complaints and requests for intervention. The matter has also reached the courts, where an Islamabad East civil court restrained the defendants from drilling a new tube well on June 24, 2026.
According to court records, after residents alleged that the order was being violated, the court on July 20 directed its bailiff to visit the site and ensure implementation of the earlier order. The bailiff was asked to submit a compliance report by July 28, 2026. The available documents do not include the bailiff’s final report or any subsequent decision on the contempt application.
Speaking at a press conference, resident Naila Jabeen said 11 tube wells had been installed in H Block within a distance of 1,320 feet, including four belonging to the Public Works Department. She claimed the tube wells collectively extracted around 5,000 gallons of water per hour and remained operational for 12 to 24 hours a day.
She said the issue was no longer confined to a single disputed borehole, but had become a broader environmental and public interest concern involving excessive groundwater extraction, commercial boring and lack of proper protection for underground water reserves.
Jabeen warned that uninterrupted pumping was placing severe pressure on underground water resources. She demanded an urgent scientific and hydrological survey to determine the volume of water being extracted and the rate at which groundwater reserves were declining.
According to her, the water level in the area had dropped sharply over the past five years. She said water that was earlier available at a depth of around 50 feet now required boring to nearly 300 feet.
She also cautioned that excessive groundwater extraction could increase the risk of land sinking and damage to nearby properties. She appealed to residents, universities and research institutions to visit the locality and independently examine the situation.
Residents have questioned the role of the CDA and Pak EPA, saying complaints had been submitted to the management committee, the registrar, the Deputy Commissioner, the CDA and environmental authorities, but drilling activity continued.
Jabeen also claimed that applications were twice filed with environmental authorities and that the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources was approached for assistance. Universities were also invited to conduct practical research in the area, but, according to her, no effective response followed.
The allegations have raised questions over whether the relevant authorities properly assessed the environmental impact of repeated drilling and whether sufficient steps were taken after residents reported the matter.
The court record shows that Shabnum Akhtar and others filed a civil suit against the Civilian Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Soan Garden, and other respondents. The suit sought a declaration as well as permanent and mandatory injunctions.
On June 24, Civil Judge Syed Haider Shah of Islamabad East passed an interim order restraining the defendants from drilling the new or disputed borehole, subject to notice. The court also ordered issuance of notices to the respondents.
In a subsequent order dated July 20, in the matter of Naila Jabeen versus CECHS and others, the court recorded the filing of a contempt petition. The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the earlier restraining order was being violated.
The court then directed its bailiff to visit the site and ensure compliance with the June 24 order, with a report required by July 28, 2026.
Residents are demanding an immediate scientific assessment of all 11 tube wells, curbs on commercial boring and water tankers, and construction of recharge wells so that rainwater can return to underground reserves.
They have also questioned why rainwater flowing from the Expressway is not being properly collected and used to improve groundwater levels. They said recharge wells could help conserve water instead of allowing it to go to waste.
The broader dispute has also included allegations of financial and administrative irregularities in the housing society. According to the supplied background information, the society’s managing committee was suspended in 2025 over allegations involving financial irregularities, record manipulation and failure to address members’ complaints. An Assistant Commissioner was appointed as administrator and fresh elections were ordered. These allegations are separate from the court proceedings concerning the disputed borehole.
Residents say the CDA, cooperative department and environmental authorities must explain what measures have been taken to protect reserved land and underground water. They want the authorities to examine the number of tube wells, their operating hours, the quantity of water extracted and the impact on nearby properties and residents.
The central issue, residents say, is why repeated complaints and requests for a scientific survey did not result in a clear public response before the dispute moved to court. The CDA and Pak EPA have not provided their positions in the material supplied for this report.
