The problem is that the sanitation staff do not do their job at all.
DASKA: Living in the town of Daska has become a major health hazard for most of its residents, because of the mountains of trash lying everywhere. According to official statistics, there are 10 supervisors and 206 sanitary workers in the city and they are employees of the Daska Tehsil and Municipal Administration (TMA). An amount of Rs17.4 million is spent on their salaries. Four trolleys and nine tractors are also owned by the Daska TMA.
The problem is that the sanitation staff do not do their job at all. Many often remain absent from their duties. A majority of the sanitary workers moonlight at private homes and businesses, drawing extra pay from there. There is no proper place for dumping solid waste and in most cases, solid waste is thrown along the main roads. In 2006, the TMA purchased 96 kanals of land to use as a landfill site for dumping solid waste but that plot has yet to be used for any such purpose.
In 2007, sewerage pipes were laid in the town at a cost of Rs11 million but within five to six years, they have stopped working. The town has three sewerage stations, to serve a town with a population of over 250,000. All of them are blocked after intervals, causing gutters to overflow. Local social, religious and political groups in the town have expressed concern over this situation and have accused the district government and the Daska TMA of not paying attention towards resolving this bad state of affairs.
They also urge the Punjab government to take interest in this matter and to intervene directly since the situation seems to have gotten out of hand. I also appeal to the Sialkot DCO to look into this and take appropriate steps to improve sanitation in the town.
Imran Sharif
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2013.
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