CAIRO: More than 50 inhabitants of the Saft El Laban district of Giza have officially complained to the general prosecutor about polluted drinking water in their homes, and demanded replacing the neighborhood's rusty water pipes. Mohamed Abdel Azim, activist at the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights, told Daily News Egypt that 52 Saft El Laban residents have voiced their complaints to the center about the water shortage they have been suffering from for a long time. Abdel Azim said the area used to have clean drinking water until ten days ago when the supply got weaker. Afterwards, they requested that the district council provide them with more powerful water pumps. "The frustrated residents alleged that government officials demanded bribes in return for water supply, said Abdel Azim. He added that the residents previously collected about LE 12,000 and gave it to the local council in an attempt to improve the quality of drinking water in the area. When nothing was done, the residents held a demonstration at the council and filed an appeal to the public prosecutor's office. "On our way to the prosecutor's office, police forces stopped us, fearing a demonstration. They only allowed two representatives to go up and file the complaint, said Abdel Azim. However, they refused, insisting that at least five people would report the problem. In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Saad Eddin Bakry, a disgruntled Saft El Laban resident, reiterated allegations that some local council officials were asking for bribes. "These officials are very corrupt, he said. "They want money to give us water.but water isn't our only problem, we also have problems electricity and even bread to eat, Bakry said. Another resident, Farouk Kamel, told Daily News Egypt that after presenting the appeal to the public prosecutor, the Holding Company for Drinking Water sent representatives to analyze water samples, they promised to solve the problem, yet nothing has changed. "Although they did the tests, we still don't have pure potable water in our homes.Some police officers even threatened to withdraw the appeal, said Kamel. Abdel Kawi Khalifa, president of Holding Company for Drinking Water, denied that the water supply in Saft El Laban was polluted. "I can assure you that no polluted water comes out of their taps.if they want to change or renew the water pipes networks in the district that's another story, Khalifa told Daily News Egypt in a telephone interview. He said the company is ready to send other representatives to examine and solve the water problem there. "We can solve the problem, but no need to overreact and exaggerate, he said.
