Gulshan-e-Iqbal in a shambles

Even light rain leaves roads inundated, sewers overflowing

KARACHI:

The infrastructure of different blocks of Gulshan-e-Iqbal has been destroyed due to the incompetence and poor strategy of Metropolitan Corporation Karachi (KMC). A few millimeters of rain inundates the area. Even after the light rain of the previous day, the entire area including 13D, 13D 1 and 2 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal was flooded. Sewage water is clogged in the whole area.

As the rains begin, manholes start to overflow due to which more than 2 feet of water has accumulated in throughfares and streets of Block 13D and Zia Colony.

The roads and streets of the area turned into ponds of sewage. Residents of the area have been stranded in their homes due to the accumulation of sewage in streets and neighbourhoods.

As sewage and rainwater has flooded the roads and streets, the passers-by, especially the elders, children and women, are facing difficulty in movement.

Moreover, citizens going to offer prayers are also facing difficulties in going to mosques. The residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal are very angry about the worst situation in the area. Residents of the area demanded immediate drainage of sewage from MD Water and Sewerage Board and Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

They said that the officers of KWSB have turned Gulshan-e-Iqbal into a Cesspool.

As per locals despite several complaints, sewage system is not being fixed. Residents of the area said that the rain water drains from the entire city, but dirty water accumulates in this area for several days.

The residents of the area have demanded to solve the issue by laying a big sewage line. Sources said that ever since the university was built, the residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal have been subjected to extreme misery.

During the construction of the university, the rain and sewage water of 4 Union Committee is diverted to Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 13D near Al Mustafa Hospital. Due to very poor strategy, the rain and seweage water clogged in the whole area.

Sources said that only after 10 to 15 mm of rain, the water of nallah near Al-Mustafa Hospital overflowed the said area and the whole area turn into a filthy water pond. Residents of the area have requested Sindh Chief Minister, Municipalities Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Administrator of KMC East Rahmatullah Sheikh several times to change the design on the drain on University Road so that the water of various UCs can diverted towards Liyari river from to the university. Residents of the area have demanded several times to relive the residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 13D from this problem.

However, Sindh government and local bodies have remained silent on the issue so far, due to which millions of citizens have to suffer in every rain. Movement from one road to another is restricted. The infrastructure of the said areas has been destroyed due to stagnant rainwater and sewage.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2022.