Shahi Katha: Drains from 19th century buckling under today’s urban demands

Rainwater flooded parts of the city as drain remains blocked by garbage dumps.

PESHAWAR:

Parts of the city were swathed in water last week as the drainage system failed – again – to withstand rain, exposing the botched performance of city development and municipal authorities.

A number of localities remained inundated on Sunday causing great inconvenience to residents. As rain and sewage combined, unhygienic sludge covered roads which were waiting, dug up, for sewer lines to be laid.

In Pipal mandi, Khyber Bazaar, Gulbahar and Mohallah Jang, silt and dumped garbage choked the main drainage. Businesses came to a halt as most roads were flooded and water started to seep into shops.

“I have neither the equipment nor workers to clean a 10-kilometre-long drain, full to the point that less than five percent of the drain is visible,” said Anwar Ali. Ali is in-charge at the Shahi Katha, and has been tasked to de-silt the drain by the district administration.

Peshawar’s drainage system dates back centuries. Shahi Katha, the main sewage drain, passing through the heart of the provincial capital, was constructed under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by General Paolo Avitabile, the governor of Peshawar. The same general was also behind the construction of walls around the city.

And the very same Katha is still responsible for drainage.

The drain starts at Qissa Khwani bazaar and passes through Jehangirpura, Kochi Bazaar, Jhangi Mohallah, Mohammad Ali Johar Road, Pipal Mandi and stretches to Budhani. At least 10 kilometres long and eight feet wide, it has been occupied by illegal construction.

“Buildings have been erected on it. Only two feet have been left for men to enter and collect silt and garbage.” Ali questioned how anyone could empty the mammoth garbage heap, with only spades.

“The cleaning of this drain seems impossible – unless we are provided with modern machinery which could suck the garbage from under the buildings erected over it. It is beyond human ability to clean it.”

Numerous shops, multi-storey plazas and houses have been constructed over it which has not only made the drain completely impassable for water but also made de-silting impossible. Because of the bustling markets and mushrooming residences, all types of garbage has been dumped here.

Inamullah Khan, a shopkeeper at Jhangi Mohallah, said: “The areas around the Katha are facing overwhelming issues related to cleanliness, sanitation and drainage thanks to a poor management system.”

Residents say the relocation of families from rural lands, and the influx of Afghan refugees to the urban centre has aggravated the situation. The Katha is now one of the “most pathetic drainage systems in the city”.

With a dysfunctional, ancient drainage system, torrential rains just add to the city’s dilemmas. Overflowing gutters, flooded roads and ‘shutters down’ on businesses are just the broad strokes – the problem spills over into every aspect of the growing population’s lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2013.