Poor waste management has led to contamination of water channels in Kabal Tehsil. Perturbed over the issue, residents, civil society members and social activists have raised concern and have asked relevant authorities to put an end to the practice.
The local communities depend on Bara Bandai water channel for irrigation and household activities. “Water from the channel is being utilised for drinking and washing purposes. In mosques, people use it to perform ablution. However, it’s sad that some people are discharging waste in the channel,” said Local Defence Committee President Idrees Khan.
However, the local government or municipalities have devised no mechanism to restrict residents from discharging effluents into the rivers and streams. “Ironically, people construct houses by spending large amounts of money but they don’t dig their own drains for sewage and discharge waste material into the channel,” Rohul Amin, a social activist said.
According to experts, polluted water is the main cause of a number of diseases in the area. “About 60 per cent of diseases spread due to contaminated water, but there is no system with the government for disposal of waste in our area, due to which people discharge waste water into fresh water,” said Shaukat Sharar, another social activist. He said that though strict laws exist against contamination of rivers and streams under local government ordinance, but they have not been implemented by the government. “Lack of awareness on laws and importance of clean water is another reason why people violate rules,” he added.
When contacted, Sub-divisonal Magistrate Asif Ali said, “If the affected locals write a formal complaint on the issue, I will forward it to the district coordination officer with my recommendation on imposing restriction against contamination of the channel water.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2012.
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