Drain water seeps into gas pipelines

Residents say problem started a few weeks ago in Tench Bhatta

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RAWALPINDI:

Residents of the Rawalpindi Cantonment area are grappling with serious health and environmental hazards as dirty drain water and sewage have seeped into gas pipelines. The contaminated, toxic sludge has infiltrated homes through the gas connections, causing environmental concerns and disrupting the gas supply.

The residents have lodged complaints with the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), prompting the company to dispatch teams to address the issue. However, efforts to flush out the contaminants from the gas pipelines have yielded little success.

"We have filed multiple complaints to SNGPL for urgent action, but their teams arrived after a week and left without solving the issue," said Tahir Malik, a resident of Tench Bhatta. He added that the gas supply has now been reduced to almost nothing.

Sidra Arsalan, another resident of Tench Bhatta, shared her frustration over the situation, which has persisted for the past two weeks. "SNGPL crew came twice, flushed out thick black liquid mixed with sewage from the pipes, and then left, saying they would inform their senior. But nothing has been fixed," she said.

Aziz Butt, another resident, voiced concerns over the potential health risks caused by the pollutants entering homes. "The foul smell and contamination are not only disrupting gas supply but also threatening our health. We are already dealing with a severe gas shortage, and now this," he said.

SNGPL field officials acknowledged the issue, stating they are working to identify the point where the gas pipelines and drain water have become interconnected. "We've pressurised the lines to flush out the contaminants and will report the issue to the relevant department for necessary maintenance," said an SNGPL official.

However, the problem persists, leaving many streets in Tench Bhatta without gas. Decades-old gas connections mixed with drains have weakened the pipelines, leading to perforations in the supply lines.

The residents have called on the authorities to take immediate action to resolve the crisis, warning that they will stage protests outside the SNGPL office if the issue is not addressed promptly.