Neighbourhood upkeep: Residents protest ‘faulty’ sewerage system

They said sewerage water had entered their homes and damaged the structures.

MULTAN/ FAISALABAD: Scores of residents of villages around Jhang Road staged a protest demonstration against the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) on Friday for failing to drain sewerage water staning in residential areas.

The protesters gathered at Jhang-Faisalabad Road and blocked it for traffic by erecting blockades.

Talking to newsmen, Safdar, a resident of Liaqat Town, said the WASA had not laid a proper sewerage system in their neighbourhood. “Sewerage water has inundated roads, bazaars and streets in Liaqat Town, Khawaja Town and Chak 219-RB,” he said.

He said dozens of complaints in this regard had been moved with the WASA. “We asked them to pump out the sewerage water from our neighbourhood but no one has looked into our complaint,” he said.

Aslam, another protester, said sewerage water entered some houses and damaged the structures.

“Our alleys are perpetually stinking and residents have developed respiratory problems,” he said. The demonstrators chanted slogans against the local administration and the WASA authorities. They said they would stage a sit-in in front of the WASA office and the DCO’s Complex if their problems were not addressed. No officer of the district administration or a WASA representative met the protesters who dispersed after a few hours. The WASA spokesman was not available for comment.

‘Prepare for monsoon rains’

In Multan, DCO Nadir Chattha directed the Health Department and the WASA to remain to alert during monsoon rains to prevent a dengue fever outbreak.

Addressing a meeting regarding the anti-dengue campaign, the DCO ordered the WASA and Multan Waste Management Company to ensure cleanliness in the city. He said rainwater should be drained quickly and standing water should be removed. He said the Health Department should prepare a report on staff required to supervise the anti-dengue campaign.

Addressing the meeting, Dengue Control Programme head Waseem Akram said the Health Department was fully prepared to check dengue virus during the monsoon rains. “Medicines, safety kits and equipment have been provided to workers of the Health Department,” he said. “They have also been trained in surveillance and monitoring to ensure clean neighbourhoods,” he said. He said citizens should keep their surroundings clean to prevent an outbreak of dengue fever.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2016.