WSSP censured for performing poorly

Representatives blamed dept for uncleanliness, deplorable hygiene conditions in city

PESHAWAR: District representatives criticised the performance of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), saying the department had failed to perform its duties in an effective manner.

During the district assembly session on Wednesday, representatives walked out of the house after Taqdeer Ali from Shah Qabool union council made a speech that blamed WSSP for deplorable hygiene conditions in the city.

Ali expressed his dissatisfaction with the work carried out by WSSP. He said Peshawar was considered to be the second most polluted city in the world because the sanitation department had failed.

“Where is WSSP and why is it not performing its duty properly?” he asked.

Ali added people were dying of hepatitis and other viral diseases after drinking contaminated water in the city.

“It is the obligation of WSSP to install filters in every tubewell and provide clean water to people,” he said.

The district representatives returned later and the session resumed.

All members of the district assembly censured WSSP in their speeches.

Hashim Khan of Hayatabad-1 union council said the department was supposed to install a tube well in his UC last year which had yet to be done.

“Hayatabad is considered to be a posh area but since last month, residents have been forced to get clean water from water tankers since tap water is filthy,” Hashim said.

Back to school

The district assembly hall bore resemblance to a primary school where convener Qasim Ali Shah scolded district representatives who tried to reason and plead with him.

Qasim said representatives were not serious about resolving issues faced by the public and were only interested in delivering long speeches.

During a harsh exchange of words with district member Noor Wali Khalil from Tehkal UC, Qasim said assembly session was not there to listen to long speeches but to solve civic issues.

Khalil replied that ironically district members come to the “respected house” to deliver speeches only. “Health, education and all other departments are not in our circle of authority as it is and now you [the convener] are not even allowing us to explain our problems,” he said.

Khalil added fake doctors were administering addictive drugs to people in Tehkal to which many women and children had fallen victim.

Opposition leader from Awami National Party Advocate Said Zahir said the government has cut local government (LG) development budget of the whole province from Rs30 billion to Rs15 billion which was unjust.

“We fear the development budget will lapse again,” Zahir said. He added cutting LG development budget reflects the failure of the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2016.