On the back burner: In Swat, ditches dug to lay gas lines pose hazard

Residents demand SNGPL make necessary repairs, threaten to move court.

SWAT: Over a year after gas pipelines were laid out at various places in Swat, the areas dug up to install the lines is yet to be covered and pose potential hazard to the locals.

Residents of Barikot Tehsil said that the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) dug culverts and footpaths in their area to install gas pipelines but failed to make the necessary repairs after installing the lines.

“They broke open the drains and the water that used to run in them now flows on the road, which is not only unhygienic but also increases risk of accidents,” said Amani Rom, a social activist.

Another social activist, Muhammad Zakir, said that the dug up dirt leaves less space on the roads for commuters, adding that the culverts often swell up with rainwater and pose a potential hazard for passersby.

He added that many children have gotten injured after fallen into the ditches.

The locals said they have repeatedly asked the authorities concerned to reconstruct the damaged infrastructure and fill the ditches, but their demands have fallen on deaf ears.

They warned the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the SNGPL that in case of any accident due to the damaged infrastructure, they will move court against both the departments.

In Mingora Bazaar, shopkeepers said that since the SNGPL and NHA did no pay heed to their concerns, they had to get the dug up areas filled on their own expense.

“We insisted on removing the dirt and pipes from in front of our shops but no one paid heed. We removed the heaps of dirt ourselves but the pipes are still lying there, which is why workers of the municipal committee refuse to clean the drains,” said Sajjad Ahmad, a bookseller.

When contacted, District Coordination Officer Kamran Rehman said that a meeting of the departments concerned will be called to decide on removing the extra pipes from the sites and covering the ditches.

The tehsil administration officers in Mingora will be directed to complete the necessary repair work, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2012.