Larkana is facing a number of issues, including that of sewerage, drainage and undrinkable ground water
LARKANA: The city of Larkana is facing a number of issues, including that of sewerage, drainage, and undrinkable groundwater. The 85,316 houses with 490,508 people residing there, fall under the local Municipal Corporation. They face severe problems in the drainage system of toxic sewerage water. The sewerage water overflows from the drain lines due to which main roads and streets are filled with dirty water. For sewerage water, there are a few discharge units working on the outskirt of the city, that discharge polluted water into canals.
There are two canals flowing within Larkana, namely Rice and Dadu Canal. These two canals are a source of clean water for people of Larkana and Dadu. These canals also help in irrigating crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables. Canals help to maintain the groundwater level, which is important for consumption.
Unfortunately, Larkana’s sewerage water is being discharged directly into the city canals without any treatment. This untreated sewerage water badly affects the groundwater by contaminating it. Apart from other discharging units, near Mashori Village 10 pipes were installed to drain out approximately 250 cusecs of water every minute into the Rice Canal. Due to this discharge of a large amount of contaminated water, the groundwater quality has been dangerously affected not only in the city of Larkana but at Dokri, Badah, Bakrani, Mehar and Naseerabad villages. Due to this contaminated water, a number of health issues are being rapidly reported and this has become the major cause of the spread of skin diseases and hepatitis.
Despite the Supreme Court’s order, untreated water is being continuously discharged into the canals. I urge the authorities to take action by installing treatment and filter plants to make this water re-useable and stop discharging untreated water into the canals.
Aftab Jamali
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2019.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
