Delay in work on sewage drain irks worshippers

Pool of wastewater around historic Masjid-e-Afghan emanates foul odour

JHELUM:

The incomplete work on drainage meant for transporting sewage from Jhelum’s historic Masjid-e- -Afghan and surrounding areas has led to the formation of a pool, forcing worshippers to splash through puddles to offer prayers. During the construction of the green belt project on the bank of the Jhelum River, no arrangement was put in place to deal with sewage of the historic mosque.

The wastewater generated by ablutions of worshippers has caused the sewage to gather in surrounding areas around Masjid-e-Afghan. The smell in the area has become unbearable and locals feared the spread of potential diseases. Former deputy commissioner Saif Anwar Jappa approved the drain project two years ago but after his posting, the construction work suffered an inordinate delay.

His successor and former deputy commissioner Rao Pervez Akhtar assigned the project to another contractor to begin work but he abandoned the project halfway through. Worshippers and locals said that ‘Masjid-e-Afghan is a historic mosque of the Jhelum district and it used to offer a spectacular view of the Jhelum River before the construction of the green belt.

They said that people from all over the province used to visit the historic mosque, which has been neglected by the Auqaf department and the district administration for the last 40 years. Owing to bureaucratic redtapism, locals had formed their own committee to look after the mosque by carrying out renovation and maintenance work besides laying a carpet.

About a year ago, the newly appointed Imam of the mosque dismissed the committee and took responsibility for the maintenance of the mosque. Every Friday, the Imam asks for donations from worshippers for the upkeep and maintenance of the mosque despite this being the responsibility of the Auqaf department