Sanitation issues: MCP given deadline to clean city’s water channels
PHC asks authority to replace or relocate drinking water pipes by April 16.
PHC asks authority to replace or relocate drinking water pipes by April 16. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed officials of the Municipal Corporation Peshawar (MCP) to clear all the city’s water channels of mud and replace or relocate drinking water pipes passing through them by April 16.
It also ordered the channels be fenced with iron bars so that plastic bags – the main cause of blockages – do not prevent water from flowing smoothly during the rainy season.
The orders were issued by a PHC green bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Afsar Ali Shah during the hearing of a suo motu case.
A Suo motu notice was taken after the PHC Human Rights Directorate (HRD) received complaints that Shahi Katha, the main drain carrying a majority of the city’s waste, was blocked, resulting in an outbreak of diseases.
On March 21, the bench directed MCP officials to immediately clean the water channels and call back all MCP sanitation workers who were performing duties at VVIPs’ houses.
During the hearing on Tuesday, MCP official Javed Khan informed the bench 50% of the work had been completed at Shahi Katha, adding a majority of sanitation workers had reported back to the office while 67 others had been suspended.
Khan said they have been working day and night to clean the water channels within the minimum possible time. However, he requested the bench to allow further time so that the remaining work could be completed.
Khan claimed encroachments in Shahi Katha were the main cause for the slow pace of work, upon which the bench observed that the committee tasked with fencing water channels was yet to comply with the court’s orders.
The bench ordered concerned officials to issue show-cause notices against encroachers under the Public Property Removal Act 1977, and also directed the chief secretary and the committee’s chairman along with other members to complete fencing of the water channels.
The court also ordered water pipes passing through contaminated water be replaced or relocated within the minimum possible timeframe.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed officials of the Municipal Corporation Peshawar (MCP) to clear all the city’s water channels of mud and replace or relocate drinking water pipes passing through them by April 16.
It also ordered the channels be fenced with iron bars so that plastic bags – the main cause of blockages – do not prevent water from flowing smoothly during the rainy season.
The orders were issued by a PHC green bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Afsar Ali Shah during the hearing of a suo motu case.
A Suo motu notice was taken after the PHC Human Rights Directorate (HRD) received complaints that Shahi Katha, the main drain carrying a majority of the city’s waste, was blocked, resulting in an outbreak of diseases.
On March 21, the bench directed MCP officials to immediately clean the water channels and call back all MCP sanitation workers who were performing duties at VVIPs’ houses.
During the hearing on Tuesday, MCP official Javed Khan informed the bench 50% of the work had been completed at Shahi Katha, adding a majority of sanitation workers had reported back to the office while 67 others had been suspended.
Khan said they have been working day and night to clean the water channels within the minimum possible time. However, he requested the bench to allow further time so that the remaining work could be completed.
Khan claimed encroachments in Shahi Katha were the main cause for the slow pace of work, upon which the bench observed that the committee tasked with fencing water channels was yet to comply with the court’s orders.
The bench ordered concerned officials to issue show-cause notices against encroachers under the Public Property Removal Act 1977, and also directed the chief secretary and the committee’s chairman along with other members to complete fencing of the water channels.
The court also ordered water pipes passing through contaminated water be replaced or relocated within the minimum possible timeframe.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.