Sewerage crisis escalates in Manawan, Batapur

Dilapidated drainage system causes flooding in monsoon

LAHORE:

The sewerage problems are increasing day by day in Manawan, Batapur and adjoining areas of Lahore.

Accroding to local residents, in the areas on the outskirts of Lahore, most of the land was earlier cultivated. Over time, unplanned private housing schemes began to take hold in the areas, leading to dirt roads, dilapidated houses and an increase in ungoverned population.

On the one hand, agriculture was destroyed and on the other hand, unauthenticated facilities were provided in the settlements without complying with the rules and regulations. The most basic need of drainage and sewage discharge was fulfilled without any strategy, a resident said.

Now the sewerage system of the existing settlements has become dilapidated and unable to withstand the load.

This is the reason that the situation gets worse during the rainy season. The pooling of rainwater on the GT Road for hours is not uncommon.

Jalu Bazaar, which served the people of more than 100 villages, is often flooded during the monsoon season.

According to a local trader, pedestrians, or even vehicles, cannot pass through the areas of Tejgarh Road, Ganja Pind to Bhini Road, Manawan and Dagrawan during rain.

The Bagwali Puly road has become unusable because of sewage.

The Water and Sanitation Agency’s (WASA) system is non-existent in most of the localities of the area despite the presence of many colonies. Thousands of people have settled in the area after moving from the urban areas of Lahore, due to which the existing facilities are proving to be inadequate.

Another resident said a large number of foreign guests enter the country through the Wagah border and first see then area presenting an unattractive image of the provincial capital.