Stagnant water may cause viral disease outbreak

Stagnant water has become breeding ground for mosquitoes due to CDA negligence in federal government's industrial hub

ISLAMABAD:

Stagnant water due to overflowing gutters in the industrial area of I-9 near Margalla Dry Port may cause an outbreak of various viral diseases.

Sources said that the clogged gutters have caused the dirty water to accumulate on the road, affecting not only Margalla Dry Port but also surrounding industrial, commercial factories, and government offices.

This stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes because of the negligence on the part of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the federal government's industrial hub. The industrialists and the governors of the government and semi-government offices established there are getting mosquito sprays on their own.

The residents have urged the administration to address the poor cleanliness in the federal government's industrial hub and to clear and repair long-clogged gutters to safeguard industrial workers from contracting deadly diseases.

The affected industrialists and workers said despite repeated complaints to the CDA, the issue remains unresolved. While CDA officials temporarily address the problem by removing sewage with machines when the situation becomes dire, the root issue remains unaddressed because the blocked gutters are not cleaned.

They urge the CDA chairman to take decisive action to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases and ensure the area's cleanliness by cleaning the blocked sewer lines.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2024.