Flooding prone: Trapped between streams and no walls to protect them

Residents of Makan Bagh appeal to humanitarian organisations for assistance.

SWAT:

Trapped between two streams in Mingora, Makan Bagh is prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season. Residents have repeatedly asked the local administration to construct flood protection walls along the banks of the streams, but their demands have not been met. Disappointed, they have now appealed to humanitarian organisations for assistance.

Ghani, a local, said that after the 2010 floods a number of flood protection walls were built along rivers and streams in neighbouring areas. However, he claimed that his area has been deliberately left out. “When the only responsible authority is not listening to us, we don’t understand what to do and where to go?” he remarked.

Riaz Hussain, another local, said whenever the streams swell, their homes are flooded with water, which also brings in mud and rocks. He said it takes weeks to clear their homes of silt after the water level in the streams has decreased. “We have started fearing rains, because every time it pours our houses get flooded,” he added.



Bakhtiar Khan, an official of the irrigation department which is responsible for constructing the flood protection walls, said steps are being taken to protect Makan Bagh area from floods.

However, due to shortage of funds, the department has not been able to construct protection walls along the streams in the area. “We are trying to arrange funds and hope that the remaining work will be completed soon.”



Polluted Elum stream

Residents have also complained that workers of the state-operated butcher house in the area are polluting the Elum stream by dumping garbage and animal waste in it.

They said the stream water reeks of animal waste and is a source of disease. They demanded of the government to put an end to this practice and order the butcher house workers to dump wastes properly outside of town.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2012.