City struggles to unclog choked drains

Citizens demand action to prevent spread of diseases caused by accumulated water on the roads

KARACHI:

The sewage system in numerous areas has been affected by entrails that residents have dumped into the open sewers and dug up gutter lines. Deliberate disposal of animal remains in the nullahs and sewerage lines has caused significant problems in the metropolitan city.

One of the worst-hit areas is the road leading to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, locally known as Mosamyat which intersects with the University Road.

The area is already dug up for BRT route and people just threw the offal in these ditches knowing well that some are sewerage lines.

Subsequently, the clogged sewerage lines have led to an impassable road and a build-up of contaminated water, forcing citizens to take alternative routes. The situation has particularly impacted the students of the University of Karachi (KU).

According to Kiran Fatima, a student at the KU, this road has been in poor condition for a while now, but it has worsened soon after Eidul Azha.

The accumulation of contaminated water has resulted in traffic issues. Furthermore, the ongoing construction at the university has compounded the problem.

The road is now filled with sewage water, and despite the availability of public transportation, which charges double fares due to the road closure, female students are the most affected as male students often rely on motorcycles to leave the campus.

A resident of Mosamyat, Ashhad Hussain, shared his experience on his first day of work, expressing concern about keeping his clothes clean.

The road is a major thoroughfare for the university, and sewage spills are present throughout. All people, including office workers, are facing serious difficulties due to the road closure.

Meanwhile, a similar situation persists near Teen Hatti. The people living on Nishtar Road are enduring unbearable stench and piles of waste caused by sewage overflow.

Despite numerous complaints, no cleaning arrangements have been made, and the foul odor continues to spread across the entire area.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a resident of Nishtar Road, Muhammad Saeed, stressed the need to address the issue at its root, citing Chowk 27 as a primary point where sewage water accumulates in the streets.

"Although a cleaning operation has been conducted but dirt, filth, and garbage still remains in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Hussainabad, and its neighbouring areas", he added.

Concerned citizens warn that immediate action is necessary to prevent the potential spread of various diseases caused by the contaminated water accumulated on the roadways. Municipal bodies must expedite the drainage process, they demand.

University of Karachi Urdu Department Professor Muneebul Hasan Raza said citizens are facing problems due to development work of Green Line BRT track on University Road, where two public and many private universities are located